LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


Urist-i 


-'66. 


MARK  ROWLAND. 


OIF1    TTTTK 


BY  HAWSER  MARTINGALE, 

AUTHOR     OP     "  TALES     OF    THE    OCEAN,"     "  SALT-WATER     BUBBLES,' 
"JACK    IN    THE    FORECASTLE,"   ETC.,   ETC. 


"  He  who  in  Venturous  barques  hath  been 

A  wanderer  on  the  deep, 
Can  tell  of  many  an  awful  scene, 
Where  storms  forever  sweep." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 


,    ZPublislaer, 

319   WASHINGTON    STKKET, 

BOSTON. 

1867. 


LIBRARY 

.UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
--.   DAVIS 


\ 

/ 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866,  by 

A.  K.  LORING,  , 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Stereotyped  by 

ROCKWELL  AND  ROLLINS, 

122  Wash.  St.,  Boston. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  READER. 


THE  public  for  years  have  been  familiar  with  the 
tales  and  narratives  published  from  tune  to  time  under 
the  name  of  "  Hawser  Martingale ; "  and  I  am  proud  to 
say  they  have  been  received  with  distinguished  favor. 
Unlike  many  of  the  sea-stories  of  the  day,  they  were 
written  by  a  sailor;  and  any  genuine  web-footed  son  of 
the  sea  will  say  that  whatever  demerits  they  may  pos 
sess  in  other  respects,  the  pictures  of  salt-water  life  and 
character  they  represent,  are  faithfully  portrayed. 

Although  the  author  for  several  years  has  hardly 
contributed  his  mite  to  the  current  literature  of  the  day, 
his  pen  has  not  been  idle.  It  has  not  been  thrown 
overboard,  nor  is  it  altogether  rusty,  as  may  to  some 
extent  be  seen  by  the  narrative,  which  is  now  given  to 
the  public,  in  which  he  has  endeavored  to  sketch  a 
series  of  events  in  the  life  of  a  sailor-boy,  for  the  edifi 
cation  and  amusement  of  persons,  old  or  young,  who 
take  an  interest  in  nautical  scenes. 

Nor  will  he  stop  here.     "Hawser  Martingale"  will 

8 


4  ADDRESS  TO  THE  READER. 

endeavor  to  obey  the  injunction  of  the  gallant  Lawrence, 
and  "never  give  up  the  ship"  while  a  shot  is  left  in  the 
locker.  And  the  public  may  be  interested — perhaps 
gratified — to  learn  that  unless  unexpected  circumstances 
prevent,  "Mark  Kowland"  will  be  followed  by  other 
works  equally  entertaining,  and  having  a  decided  smack 
of  salt  water. 

JOHN  S.  SLEEPER. 

ROXBURY,  November,  1866. 


MARK   ROWLAND 


CHAPTER    I. 

I 

FLATTERING     DREAMS. 

IN  the  little  village  of  Glenmaple,  situated  about  sixty 
miles  from  Boston,  resided  a  family  some  twenty  years  ago, 
whose  name  was  Rowland.  Mr.  Rowland  had  once  been 
possessed  of  some  property.  He  married  an  amiable  wo 
man,  and  "  opened  a  store."  Fortune  smiled  upon  him,  but 
he  became  addicted  to  intemperate  habits,  which  always  lead 
to  idleness  and  unthriftiness.  He  failed  in  business,  of 
course,  was  overwhelmed  with  debts  which  he  had  neither 
the  means  nor  the.  inclination  to  pay,  and  became  a  horse- 
jockey,  a  gambler,  and  a  vagabond.  In  a  word,  he  was  one 
of  those  men,  not  unfrequent  in  New  England,  who  start  on 
their  journey  through  life  with  brilliant  prospects,  but  before 
they  reach  the  half-way  house,  sacrifice  their  own  characters 
and  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  their  families  to  gratify  a 
morbid  thirst  for  intoxicating  drinks. 

He  died  miserably  a  few  years  before  the  commencement 
of  my  story.  His  widow  occupied  a  little  cottage  in  a  lane 
a  short  distance  from  the  main  road.  It  was  but  scantily 
furnished,  and  she  labored  every  hour  in  the  day  to 


6  MAEK  ROWLAND. 

procure  the  means  of  subsistence  for  herself  and  her  three 
children. 

Her  neighbors  respected  her,  notwithstanding  she  was 
poor,  for  she  was  not  only  industrious,  but  cherished  correct 
moral  principles,  and  a  deep  sense  of  piety,  and  had  exerted 
all  a  woman's  influence,  but  in  vain,  to  keep  her  husband  in 
the  paths  of  rectitude  and  honor.  They  furnished  her  with 
work,  and  sometimes  made  her  little  presents,  and  in  this 
way  Mrs.  Rowland  succeeded  in  providing  for  herself  and 
family  the  necessaries,  if  not  the  luxuries,  o^life.  Being  of 
a  cheerful  disposition,  humble  in 'her  wishes,  with  her  heart 
bound  up  in  her  children,  she  was  grateful  to  divine  Prov 
idence  for  the  blessings  she  enjoyed,  without  making  herself 
unhappy  by  pining  after  treasures  which  were  beyond  her 
reach. 

The  name  of  her  eldest  son  was  Mark.  He  was  a  lad  of 
an  excellent  disposition  and  industrious  habits,  and  was 
never  happier  than  when  assisting  in  the  labors  of  his  moth 
er  or  promoting  the  happiness  of  his  brother  and  sister. 
Mark  was  a  frank,  open-hearted  boy,  and  seldom  thought  of 
self  when  the  comfort  of  others  was  at  stake.  His  mother 
had  early  awakened  in  him  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  had 
taught  him  to  read  and  write,  and  to  value,  as  an  inestima 
ble  treasure,  the  instruction  he  received  at  the  district 
school. 

Mark  had  for  two  seasons,  by  the  labor  of  his  hands,  cul 
tivated  a  little  patch  of  ground  attached  to  the  cottage,  and 
furnished  the  family  with  vegetables  in  abundance,  and  often 
placed  in  his  mother's  hands  a  few  cents,  and  sometimes  a 
piece  of  silver  coin,  which  he  had  earned  by  going  an  er 
rand,  or  performing  some  other  service  for  a  neighbor.  He 
was  a  handy  little  fellow,  shrewd  and  ingenious,  as  is  often 
the  case  with  Yankee  boys. 

When  Mark  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  strong 


FLATTERING   DREAMS.  7 

and  active,  and  remarkably  intelligent,  for  he  had  read 
every  book  he  could  borrow,  and  for  two  years  had  been  at 
the  head  of  his  school.  He  was  also  fond  of  athletic  exercis 
es,  had  climbed  many  a  lofty  pine  to  destroy  a  crow's  nest, 
could,  swim  like  an  otter,  and  skate,  jump,  run,  or  wrestle 
with  any  boy  of  his  years,  and  carry  off  the  victor's  wreath. 
In  a  hunt  or  a  tramp  in  the  woods,  or  at  any  kind  of  work 
on  a  farm,  he  could  bear  almost  any  amount  of  fatigue. 

About  this  time  Mark  formed  an  intimacy  with  Andrew 
Herman,  a  boy  a  year  or  two  older  than  himself,  who  had 
made  two  voyages  to  the  West  Indies,  and  was  looked  upon 
with  admiration  and  envy  by  his  old  school-fellows  in  Glen- 
maple.  After  Andrew  left  the  village  to  look  for  another 
voyage,  Mark  became  silent  and  thoughtful.  His  spirits 
lost  their  wonted  buoyancy.  He  evidently  labored  under 
the  weight  of  some  unusual  care  or  trouble.  One  day  his 
mother,  who  saw  with  anxiety  this  change  in  her  son's  con 
duct  and  appearance,  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject,  and 
urged  him  to  tell  her  the  cause  of  the  dejection  which  was  so 
plainly  visible  in  his  actions  and  features. 

"  Why,  mother,"  said  Mark,  "  I  have  been  thinking  for 
some  time  that  I  am  a  great  boy,  almost  able  to  do  a  man's 
work.  Fourteen  years  old !  Think  of  that,  mother !  I 
ought  to  do  something  more  for  the  support  of  all  of  us  than 
to  remain  about  home,  digging  in  the  garden,  loafing,  or 
running  on  errands  for  the  neighbors.  Albert  is  old  enough 
and  strong  enough  to  help  you  in  the  garden  and  in  the 
house,  and  sister  Ellen  is  no  trouble  to  you  now,  and  is 
growing  older  and  stronger  every  day." 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  doing,  my  son?" 

"  Mother,  I  am  almost  afraid  to  tell  you.  I  should  like  to 
go  to  sea." 

"  Go  to  sea,  Mark?"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Rowland,  greatly 
astonished  and  alarmed.  "  Go  to  sea !  You  cannot  be  se- 


8  MAKE  ROWLAND. 

\        .   . 

rfous,  my  son.    What  could  have  led  you  to  think  of  such  a 
thing?" 

"  Why,  mother,  I  have  thought  over  the  matter  a  great 
deal  lately,  and  I  always  had  a  secret  longing  to  go  to  sea. 
I  have  had  several  interesting  talks  with  Andrew  Herman. 
He  has  told  me  all  about  a  sailor's  life,  and  says  I  should 
make  a  capital  sailor." 

"  I  wish,"  said  Mrs.  Rowland,  "  that  Andrew  Herman  had 
stayed  on  board  his  ship  in  the  West  Indies  or  any  other  for 
eign  port,  instead  of  coming  back  here  and  disturbing  our 
quiet  home  by  filling  your  head  with  foolish  notions  about  a 
sailor's  life,  and  longings  which  can  never  be  realized." 

44  Why  not,  mother?  "  rejoined  Mark.  "  I  can  undertake 
nothing  that  promises  so  well.  If  I  go  to  sea  I  shall  get 
good  wages,  for  I  am  strong  and  willing  to  work,  and  bring 
home  something  every  year,  perhaps  oftener,  to  furnish  you 
and  Albert  and  Ellen,  not  only  with  abundance  of  food  and 
clothing,  but  other  comforts,  and  to  some  extent  relieve 
your  cares,  and  make  you  all  more  happy !  Oh,  mother,  do 
let  me  go  to  sea ! " 

"  My  dear  child,"  said  Mrs.  Rowland,  and  the  tears  came 
into  her  eyes,  "  a  sailor's  life  is  full  of  hardship,  danger,  and 
fatigue ;  and  what  if  you  should  be  shipwrecked,  or  cast 
away  on  some  desert  shore,  or  fall  overboard  and  be 
drowned,  or  be  captured  by  pirates,  or  die  of  some  terrible 
disease  in  a  foreign  land,  and  no  mother  to  nurse  you  or 
comfort  you  in  your  dying  hour !  Oh,  Mark,  I  can  never 
consent  to  your  going  to  sea." 

"  Mother,  Andrew  Herman  says  that  such  objections  to  a 
sailor's  life  are  all  humbugs.  He  says,  and  surely  he  ought 
to  know,  that  in  a  good  ship  there  is  no  danger  of  being  cast 
away  or  shipwrecked.  He  says  a  sailor's  life  is  a  jolly  one, 
free  from  care,  with  nothing  to  do  but  watch  the  sails  and 
trim  them,  while  the  pleasant  breezes  waft  you  bravely  over 


FLATTENING   DREAMS.  9 

the  seas.  Besides,  according  to  his  account,  the  sailors  are 
such  jovial  companions,  all  the  time  laughing  and  frolicking, 
or  telling  stories  or  singing  songs ;  and  then,  the  wonders 
to  be  seen  on  the  waters  and  in  foreign  lands !  and  the  wild 
and  romantic  adventures  in  store ! " 

"  My  son,"  replied  the  widow  Rowland,  "  Andrew  Her 
man  has  not  given  you  a  true  description  of  a  sailor's  life. 
I  know  it  is  beset  with  toils  and  difficulties  and  dangers 
innumerable." 

"  Mother,  I  have  often  heard  you  say  that  God  watches 
over  us  wherever  we  may  be,  and  that  the  widow  and  the 
orphan  are  his  especial  care ;  and  surely  his  kind  influence 
will  be  felt  as  much  on  the  ocean  as  on  the  land." 

"  That  is  true,  my  son ;  we  are  never  beyond  his  protect 
ing  power.  Nevertheless,  Mark,  I  feel  as  if  I  cannot  part 
with  you  for  such  a  purpose.  The  mere  idea  of  such  a 
project  makes  me  sick  at  heart.  But,  enough  now.  We 
will  talk  of  this  at  some  other  time.  In  the  mean  while  we 
may  perhaps  think  of  some  employment  for  you,  of  a  differ 
ent  nature,  which  will  prevent  any  necessity  for  your  going 
abroad  and  exposing  yourself  to  the  perils  and  hardships  of 
a  sailor's  life,  and  they  are  many,  I  know,  notwithstanding 
the  bewitching  pictures  so  vividly  sketched  by  Andrew 
Herman." 

Some  weeks  passed  away,  and  nothing  occurred  to  change 
the  current  of  Mark  Rowland's  feelings.  He  could  find  no 
employment  of  a  satisfactory  character  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
home.  He  was  offered  by  Mr.  Sanson  the  situation  of  clerk 
and  errand-boy  in  his  grocery  store,  with  wages  little  more 
than  nominal.  But  Mr.  Sanson's  store  was  the  resort  at 
times  of  loafers,  vagabonds,  and  drunkards,  for  he  sold  strong 
liquors  by  the  glass.  Indeed,  he  boasted  that  this  disgrace 
ful  branch  of  his  business  was  the  source  of  his  greatest  prof 
it.  But  Mrs.  Rowland  recollected  her  husband's  failings. 


10  MARK  ROWLAND. 

She  had  suffered,  deeply  suffered,  from  the  evils  of  intem 
perance,  and  loathed  the  very  sight  or  name  of  a  "dram 
shop."  She  would  sooner  have  seen  Mark  in  his  grave  than 
stooping  to  such  degrading  work,  even  if  he  had  been  offered 
wages  enough  to  supply  all  her  wants. 

Mark  could  easily  have  procured  employment  as  a  farm 
er's  boy ;  but  all  that  he  would  receive  for  his  labor,  cer 
tainly  for  one  or  two  years,  would  be  his  maintenance  and 
clothing.  The  result  would  be  the  same  if  he  became  an  ap 
prentice  to  a  blacksmith  or  a  joiner.  He  was  anxious  to  be 
earning  something  immediately,  for  he  knew  that  his  mother, 
although  she  never  was  heard  to  repine  at  her  lot,  was  com 
pelled  by  poverty  to  deny  herself  many  things  which  would 
greatly  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  herself  and  family. 

Mrs.  Rowland  pondered  often  .and  deeply  on  the  subject 
which  Mark  had  broached.  She  felt  it  would  be  difficult  to 
shake  his  inclination  to  go  to  sea.  She  knew  that  the  sooner 
her  son  was  engaged  in  any  regular  business  the  better  it 
would  be  for  him  and  for  all  of  them.  He  was  tall  and 
robust,  and  more  manly  in  his  character  as  weU  as  form  than 
one  would  suppose  from  his  years.  His  principles  were  good, 
and  seemed  firmly  rooted.  Slje  was  convinced  that  he  pos 
sessed  firmness  and  strength  of  mind  to  resist  temptations  to 
evil,  and  triumph  over  all  bad  influences.  If  he  went  to  sea, 
and  proved  fortunate  in  his  undertakings,  he  might  by  his 
intelligence,  enterprise,  and  energy  rise  rapidly  in  his  pro 
fession,  and  in  a  few  years  become  an  officer,  and  ultimately 
master  of  a  ship,  and  have  it  in  his  power  to  frighten  away 
the  ills  of  poverty  which  seemed  to  cling  closer  to  her  every 
year,  and  help  his  brother  and  sister  if  she  should  be  called 
away  to  another  and  a  better  world. 

After  a  severe  struggle  with  her  feelings,  and  frequent  dis 
cussions  with  Mark,  who  urged  his  point  with  great  earnest 
ness,  Mrs.  Rowland  gave  her  reluctant  consent  that  her  son 


FLATTERING  DREAMS.  11 

should  go  to  Boston,  and  try  to  find  an  opportunity  to  go  to 
sea  as  a  cabin-boy.  She  put  his  few  plain  and  homely 
clothes  in  the  best  possible  order ;  she  talked  to  him  long 
and  often  in  relation  to  his  conduct  while  away  from  home, 
and  sought  to  fortify  his  mind  against  allurements  and  ten 
dencies  to  evil. 

At  length  the  morning  arrived  when  Mark  was  to  depart 
for  the  great  metropolis  of  New  England,  as  a  starting-point 
from  which  to  make  his  way  in  the  world.  He  knew  no  one 
in  that  busy  place  on  whom  he  could  call  for  advice  or  assist 
ance.  He  had  no  letters  of  introduction  to  business-men. 
But  he  had  confidence  in  himself,  and  looked  boldly  into  the 
future  without  misgivings.  It  was  a  sad  day  for  the  poor 
widow.  She  made  up  a  small  bundle  for  her  son,  consisting 
of  articles  of  clothing,  and  a  slender  stock  of  necessaries, 
not  forgetting  a  Bible.  She  placed  in  his  hands  a  little 
money  which  she  had  contrived  to  save  from  her  hard  earn 
ings,  and  while  the  tears  ran  down  her  cheeks  she  took  him 
in  her  arms,  bade  God  bless  him,  and  Mark  sat  out  on  his 
journey. 

He  travelled  along  slowly  at  first,  with  his  bundle  slung 
on  a  stick,  which  rested  on  his  shoulder.  He  was  sorry  to 
see  the  anguish  of  his  mother,  and  even  doubted  whether  he 
had  acted  right  in  thus  wringing  from  her  a  slow  consent  to 
encounter  the  dangers  of  the  seas.  He  was  strongly  tempted 
to  return  and  tell  his  mother  that  he  would  abandon  all  idea 
of  seeking  to  improve  his  fortunes  abroad,  but  would  remain 
with  her  and  do  what  he  could  to  make  her  happy.  And 
then  again  he  would  view  the  subject  in  a  different  light. 
He  felt  assured  that  his  mother  would  soon  recover  from  the 
dejected  state  in  which  he  had  left  her,  for  he  well  knew  her 
fortitude  and  her  trust  in  an  overruling  Providence. 

Mark  was  always  of  an  adventurous  disposition,  and  from 
the  time  when  he  first  read  "  Kobinson  Crusoe,"  which  one  of 


12  MARK  ROWLAND. 

his  school-fellows  loaned  him,  he  had  cherished  a  longing  for 
a  roving  life.  That  book  has  doubtless  caused  many  noble, 
daring  spirits  to  leave  the  comforts  of  home  and  the  enjoy 
ments  of  domestic  life  to  seek  for  wild  adventures  and  ro 
mantic  incidents  abroad.  Besides,  Mark  did  not  anticipate 
any  misfortunes.  He  looked,  as  youths-  are  apt  to  look,  on 
the  sunny  side  of  life,  without  seeing  the  storms  and  torna 
does  which  are  gathering  in  the  distance.  He  figured  to 
himself  the  delight  of  his  mother  when  he  should  return  from 
a  voyage  to  a  foreign  land  stout,  hearty,  and  cheerful,  and 
fling  into  her  lap  a  pile  of  Spanish  dollars.  As  he  indulged 
in  thoughts  like  these  his  step  was  quicker  and  more  vig 
orous,  and  his  features  lost  the  pensive  expression  which  had 
been  occasioned  by  parting  with  those  he  loved,  and  kindled 
with  excitement  and  joy. 

He  travelled  onward,  hardly  stopping  to  rest  until  the  sun 
had  sank  behind  a  wood-crowned  height,  around  whose  base 
he  had  winded  his  way,  and  on  inquiring  he  found,  to  his 
great  satisfaction,  that  he  had  accomplished  fully  one  third 
of  his  journey.  He  sat  down  on  a  rock  by  the  wayside,  and 
took  from  his  bundle  some  provisions  which  his  mother  had 
provided  him  with,  and  made  a  frugal  meal,  after  which  he 
satisfied  his  thirst  from  a  brook  which  ran  murmuring  along 
at  the  side  of  the  road,  and  proceeded  on  his  journey.  As 
the  shades  of  evening  fell,  however,  he  became  decidedly 
tired,  and  acknowledged  to  himself  that  some  repose  to  his 
wearied  limbs  would  be  exceedingly  grateful.  He  had  now 
reached  the  snug-looking  dwelling-house  of  a  thrifty  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Westville,  and  finding  Mr.  Drumrnond,  the 
owner  of  the  establishment,  standing  near  the  gate  of  the 
barn-yard  talking  with  a  neighbor,  Mark  respectfully  asked 
permission  to  sleep  in  the  barn  on  the  hay-mow  for  the 
night. 

The  kind-hearted  farmer  was  somewhat  astonished  at  the 


FLATTERING  DREAMS.  13 

request ;  he  looked  hard  at  Mark,  and  instead  of  replying, 
asked  him  a  few  questions,  which  were  so  satisfactorily 
answered,  that  he  insisted  on  our  young  adventurer  going 
with  him  to  the  house,  where  he  was  introduced  to  the  farm 
er's  wife,  a  cheerful,  motherly-looking  woman,  who  set  be 
fore  him  a  capacious  bowl  of  bread  and  milk,  and  a  mam 
moth  slice  of  newly-made  cheese ;  and  afterwards  led  him  to 
a  chamber  in  which  he  found  an  excellent  bed,  where  he 
soon  fell  asleep,  and  continued  in  that  state  until  awak 
ened  by  the  sun  shining  into  his  chamber  on  the  following 
morning. 

Mark  Rowland  was  no  sluggard,  and  he  felt  mortified  at 
having  slept  so  long.  He  soon  dressed  himself  and  went 
below,  where  he  was  kindly  greeted,  and  found  an  excellent 
breakfast  already  prepaf  ed,  of  which  he  was  urged,  by  his 
hospitable  entertainers,  to  partake,  in  language  so  kind  that 
he  could  not  refuse.  After  breakfast  he  thanked  Mr.  Drum- 
mond  and  his  wife  for  their  hospitality,  and  throwing  his 
bundle  over  his  shoulder,  proceeded  on  his  journey  towards 
Boston.  He  looked  upon  this  happy  incident,  finding  kind 
and  sympathizing  friends  among  utter  strangers,  as  a  good 
augury,  and  his  heart  grew  lighter  as  he  passed  along.  He 
hummed  an  old  song,  which  his  mother  had  often  sung ;  he 
whistled,  but  not  for  want  of  thought. 

It  was  towards  noon  on  the  third  day  of  his  journey  that, 
from  one  of  the  hills  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  he  first 
beheld  the  great  metropolis.  He  stopped  a  few  minutes,  and 
gazed  admiringly  on  the  grand  city,  with  its  towers  and 
spires  reaching  far  upwards  from  immense  masses  of  brick, 
with  the  broad  dome  of  the  State  House  surmounting  the 
whole.  He  then  hurried  along,  overjoyed  at  having  so  nearly 
reached  the  termination  of  his  journey.  He  passed  over 
Charlestown  bridge,  and  soon  found  himself  in  the  midst  of 
the  great  and  populous  city.  Mark  Rowland  inquired  the 

2 


14:  MARK  ROWLAND. 

way  to  the  wharves,  for  it  was  there  he  expected  to  find  a 
ship  in  which  to  make  his  first  voyage  to  sea.  But  how  he 
was  to  get  a  situation,  whom  he  was  to  address,  or  in  what 
manner  he  should  make  application  for  employment,  he  had 
not  the  slightest  idea.  His  notions  of  seafaring  matters 
were,  of  course,  very  vague,  yet  he  had  a  tongue  in  his 
head,  and  knew  how  to  use  it,  and  did  not  for  a  moment 
doubt  of  ultimate  success.  But  if  fortune  had  not  greatly 
favored  him,  he  might  have  waited  long  and  been  subjected 
to  much  inconvenience  before  he  could  have  accomplished 
his  object. 

As  he  passed  along  through  the  city,  Mark  was  almost 
stupefied  at  the  sight  of  the  many  strange  and  beautiful 
objects  around  him.  The  multitude  of  houses,  the  elegance 
of  the  stores  and  their  contents,  the  beauty  and  vastness  of 
the  public  buildings,  the  numerous  vehicles  rattling  over  the 
pavements,  the  throngs  of  people  threading  the  narrow 
streets  in  every  direction,  all  attracted  his  attention,  and 
almost  bewildered  him.  After  passing  through  numerous 
streets,  and  making  many  inquiries,  he  found  himself  on  one 
of  the  principal  wharves,  which  was  Jined  with  ships,  brigs, 
and  schooners,  taking  in  or  discharging  cargoes  of  merchan 
dise,  while  apparently  great  bustle  and  confusion  reigned  on 
their  decks. 

Mark  had  never  seen  a  ship,  but  he  had  often  looked  at 
pictures  of  them  under  full  sail  with  a  deep  interest.  He 
now  stood  by  the  side  of  a  real  ship,  on  Long  Wharf,  and 
gazed  upon  it  with  admiration.  He  examined  it  with  eager 
ness  from  stem  to  stern,  from  the  truck  to  the  deck,  and 
wondered  at  its  huge  bulk,  its  massive  spars,  and  the  count 
less  variety  of  ropes  which,  crossing  each  other,  extended  in 
every  direction.  He  proceeded  further  down  the  wharf,  and 
looked  beyond  the  ships,  and  saw  the  waters  of  Boston  Bay, 


FLATTERING  DREAMS.  15 

and  vessels  sailing,  and  boats  moving  gracefully  along,  with 
ensigns  and  pennants  waving  at  the  mast-head.  That  was  a 
happy  moment.  It  seemed  to  Mark  Rowland  that  he  stood 
in  fairy-land,  and  that  the  romantic  dreams  which  had  often 
visited  hi™  in  his  sleep  at  length  were  realized. 


CHAPTER  H. 

SAILING  AWAY! 
i 

.  MABK  ROWLAND  stood  on  the  wharf,  gazing  for  a  long 
time,  on  the  busy  and  attractive  scenes  around  him.  At 
length  he  thought  of  the  object  of  his  visit  to  the  city ;  and, 
after  examining  the  features  of  various  persons  who  were 
standing  around,  or  engaged  in  some  employment,  he  ap 
proached  a  gentleman  whose  benevolent  countenance  won  his 
confidence,  and  accosting  him  in  a  respectful  manner,  asked 
him  if  he  knew  of  a  captain  who  wanted  a  cabin-boy. 

The  gentleman  whom  he  addressed  was  a  wealthy  mer 
chant,  and  at  that  time  was  busily  employed  in  fitting  a  ship 
away  for  the  East  Indies.  He  looked  at  Mark,  and  was 
pleased  with  the  frank  and  manly  expression  of  his  features, 
his  modest  manner,  and  general  appearance.  He  took  a 
liking  to  the  lad  at  once,  so  true  it  is  that  goodness,  or  even 
the  semblance  of  goodness,  will  always  meet  with  friends. 
He  inquired  of  the  young  stranger  his  name,  his  residence, 
the  condition  of  his  parents,  and  how  it  happened  that  he 
came  such  a  distance,  alone  and  on  foot,  without  money  or 
friends,  to  the  city,  in  search  of  a  voyage  to  sea.  To  these 
questions  Mark  answered  promptly  and  satisfactorily,  and 
the  merchant  was  convinced  that  he  spoke  the  truth,  and  was 
deserving  of  encouragement  and  assistance. 

Mr.  Fortesque,  that  was  the  name  of  the  merchant,  told 
our  young  adventurer  that  he  had  a  large  ship  called  the 


SAILING    AWAY.  17 

Saladin,  which  was  to  sail  in  a  few  days  for  Calcutta  in  the 
East  Indies  ;  that  the  ship  would  be  commanded  by  a  very 
worthy  man,  and  that  Mark  should  have  the  situation  of 
cabin-boy.  One  can  hardly  conceive  the  joy  of  Mark  when 
he  heard  the  words  of  the  benevolent  merchant.  His  good 
fortune,  in  thus  so  easily  obtaining  a  voyage  to  sea,  equalled 
his  most  sanguine  expectations,  and,  with  words  of  deep 
feeling,  he  thanked  Mr.  Fortesque  again  and  again. 

Mr.  Fortesque  took  Mark  immediately  on  board  the  ship, 
and  introduced  him  to  the  captain,  whose  name  was  Somers, 
as  cabin-boy  of  the  Saladin.  It  was  soon  arranged  that,  as 
Mark  was  a  stranger  in  Boston,  and  had  no  boarding-house 
or  friends,  or  means  of  procuring  food  and  lodging,  he  should 
remain  on  board  the  ship,  there  partake  of  his  meals,  and 
sleep  in  the  cabin.  He  was  pleased  with  this  arrangement, 
and  lost  no  time  in  learning  his  duties  and  making  himself 
useful  in  every  possible  way.  Before  the  ship  left  the  wharf 
he  succeeded  in  gaining  the  good-will  of  the  captain  and  the 
mates,  as  well  as  the  owner ;  for  he  showed  himself  willing, 
obedient,  active,  and  intelligent. 

The  sailors  to  compose  the  crew  were  soon  shipped,  and 
Mark's  wages  were  fixed  at  eight  dollars  a  month.  Mr. 
Fortesque  generously  supplied  him  with  some  necessary 
clothing,  and  he  was  thus  enabled  to  send  back  to  his  moth 
er,  not  only  all  the  money  she  had  given  him,  but  five  dollars 
out  of  his  two  months'  advance  pay.  He  inclosed  it  in  a 
letter,  in  which  he  exultingly  described  his  good  fortune  and 
happy  feelings,  spoke  in  grateful  terms  of  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  Fortesque,  and  assured  his  mother  that,  in  a  year  at  far 
thest,  he  should  return  to  Boston  with  a  purse  well  filled,  the 
result  of  his  own  exertions,  and  hasten  home  on  the  wings 
of  affection. 

On  the  following  day  the  wind  was  fair,  the  weather  was 
pleasant,  the  crew  were  mustered,  the  pilot  came  on  board, 


18  MARK  ROWLAND. 

the  top-sails  were  loosed  and  hoisted  up,  the  fasts  cast  off,  and, 
with  a  fair  wind  and  ebb  tide,  the  Saladin  proceeded  gal 
lantly  down  the  harbor,  and  was  soon  outside  of  Boston 
light-house,  on  her  way  to  the  distant  East  Indies.  Mark 
took  a  long  look  at  the  land,  as  it  lessened  in  the  distance, 
and  mentally  bade  adieu  to  the  loved  ones  he  left  behind 
him. 

The  Saladin  proved  to  be  a  strong,  safe,  and  comfortable 
ship,  but  was  rather  a  dull  sailer,  and  moved  along  heavily 
through  the  water.  Captain  Somers  was  a  noble-hearted 
man,  who  understood  his  business  thoroughly.  He  treated 
Mark  with  kindness,  and  protected  him  during  the  early  part 
of  the  passage  from  the  rude  conduct  and  rough  practical 
jokes  of  the  sailors.  But  it  was  not  long  before  the  good 
qualities  of  the  cabin-boy  became  known  and  acknowledged, 
and  he  acquired  rapidly  some  knowledge  of  a  seafaring  life, 
and  was  so  cheerful,  so  obliging,  so  industrious,  so  active,  and 
so  intelligent,  that  he  made  a  friend  of  every  man  on  board. 
He  was  a  favorite  with  all,  and  so  far  from  being  the  subject 
of  ill-natured  gibes  or  jokes,  he  was  treated  with  kindness 
and  indulgence,  not  only  by  the  officers,  but  by  every  sailor 
in  the  ship. 

Mark  was  rather  pleased  with  a  sailor's  life,  —  it  was  a 
mode  of  life  which  suited  his  bold,  adventurous  disposition, 
—  but  the  true  wish  of  his  heart  was  to  gain  knowledge,  that 
kind  of  knowledge  which  can  only  be  derived  from  study, 
from  books,  and  prepare  him  for  taking  a  high  stand  for  use 
fulness  among  his  fellow-men.  Nevertheless,  he  bade  fair 
to  make  a  good  sailor.  So  said  Captain  Somers,  and  so  said 
his  officers.  It  was  plain  that  Mark  Rowland  would  make 
friends,  in  whatever  path  of  life  he  might  choose  to  tread  — 
and  such  will  always  be  the  case.  A  youth,  if  he  possesses 
honesty,  industry,  a  cheerful  temper,  and  cherishes  a  desire 
to  do  right,  and  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  others,  will 


SAILING    AWAY.  19 

always  meet  with  encouragement  and  aid  from  the  good  and 
deserving  part  of  mankind. 

The  Saladin  proceeded  merrily  on  her  voyage,  and  new 
wonders  were  witnessed  by  Mark  every  day  —  the  wonders 
of  the  ocean,  which  those  who  dwell  peaceably  and  quietly 
on  the  land  can  hardly  imagine.  The  cheerful  influence  of. 
a  fine  breeze,  when  the  vessel  dashes  gloriously  forward  on 
her  way  ;  the  long  swell  and  smooth  surface  of  the  sea  in  a 
calm  ;  the  flashing  phosphorescence  of  the  sea-water  during 
the  night ;  the  strict  order  and  discipline  on  board  a  well- 
regulated  ship  ;  the  activity  of  the  sailors  as  they  made  or 
took  in  sail,  and  their  encouraging  shouts,  or  songs,  marking 
time,  as  they  pulled  heavily  at  the  ropes  ;  the  flights  of  sea- 
birds,  the  spouting  of  whales,  and  the  gambols  of  those 
queer-looking  fish  known  as  porpoises,  all  attracted  his  at 
tention  and  excited  his  wonder.  Indeed,  every  succeeding 
day  showed  him  something  new  and  remarkable.  And  the 
Saladin  had  not  been  many  days  on  her  voyage  before  an 
opportunity  was  given  for  Mark  Rowland  to  witness  the  rise, 
progress,  and  ordinary  effects  of  a  gale  of  wind  at  sea. 

The  gale  came  on  gradually,  after  a  steady  and  increasing 
breeze  from  the  northward  for  a  couple  of  days.  The  light 
sails,  as  the  flying-jib  and  royals  and  studding-sails,  were  first 
taken  in  —  then  the  top-gallant  sails  and  jib.  The  wind  in 
creased  as  darkness  came  on ;  the  heavens  became  obscured 
with  thick,  flying  clouds,  and  all  hands  were  called  to  reef 
top-sails.  This  operation,  under  the  judicious  management 
of  the  captain,  who  superintended  the  work,  was  executed 
with  adroitness  and  dispatch,  and  two  reefs  were  taken  in 
the  fore  and  mizzen  top-sails,  and  one  in  the  main,  and  the 
royal-yards  were  sent  down  on  deck.  The  gale  continued  to 
increase,  and  the  wind  hauled  to  the  eastward.  It  began  to 
rain,  with  every  prospect,  in  the  language  of  Mr.  Smeaton, 
the  second  mate,  of  "  a  greasy  night." 


20  MARK  ROWLAND. 

At  midnight,  the  watch  below,  as  well  as  the  cook,  stew 
ard,  and  cabin-boy,  were  told  to  hurry  up  on  deck,  to  take 
in  more  sail.  The  main-sail  was  clued  up  and  handed, 
a  couple  of  reefs  taken  in  the  spanker,  and  the  top-sails 
were  close-reefed.  The  sea  was  now  much  agitated.  The 
waves  followed  each  other  in  swift  succession,  and  the  spray 
in  dense  volumes  broke  over  the  bows  and  sometimes  deluged 
the  waist,  as  the  ship  plunged  along  through  the  water. 
Mark  Rowland,  while  lending  a  hand  to  haul  out  the  weather 
foretop-sail  reef-tackle,  got  his  first  thorough  ducking  in  salt 
water,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  sailors. 

By  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  Captain  Somers  found  it 
expedient  to  "  lay  the  ship  to"  under  a  close-reefed  main 
top-sail.  Every  other  sail  was  now  taken  in,  and  snugly 
furled,  and  the  top-gallant  yards  were  sent  down  and  the  top 
gallant  masts  housed.  The  helm  was  put  in  one  position, 
"  hard-a-lee,"  and  firmly  lashed.  The  Saladin  was  found  to 
lay  to  under  this  sail  remarkably  well ;  the  waves,  as  they 
rushed  madly  along,  threatening  to  overwhelm  the  decks, 
passed  beneath  the  ship,  as  she  courteously  rose  to  meet 
them,  or  expended  their  force  on  the  weather-bow,  sending 
cataracts  of  spray  over  the  decks. 

The  ship  now,  while  lying  to,  made  very  little  head-way, 
but  was  driven  to  leeward  by  the  mighty  power  of  the  wind 
and  the  waves,  forced  bodily  through  the  water  at  the  rate 
of  two  or  three  knots,  and  making  some  five  or  six  points 
leeway.  Thus,  while  by  compass  the  head  of  the  ship 
pointed  towards  east-southeast,  the  course  actually  made 
was  nearly  south.  It  is  this  unavoidable  leeway  in  a  gale, 
when  a  ship  cannot  carry  sail,  that  makes  the  sailors  so 
much  rejoice  in  u  plenty  of  sea  room,"  and  dread  the  dan 
gers  of  a  lee-shore. 

For  twelve  hours  the  Saladin  lay  to,  until  the  wind  ex- 


SAILING    AWAY.  21 

hausted  itself,  after  giving  two  or  three  extra  puffs,  as  if 
determined  to  capsize  the  ship,  or  blow  the  masts  away. 

Mark  Rowland  was  at  first  not  a  little  startled  at  the 
strange  and  wild  phenomena  and  varied  incidents  which  at 
tend  a  gale  of  wind  at  sea.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say 
whether  they  most  excited  his  fear  or  his  admiration.  At 
such  a  time  the  hoarse  whistling  and  singing  of  the  wind 
through  the  rigging,  the  crashing  noise  of  the  breaking  bil 
lows  as  they  came  rushing  onward  with  a  wild  roar,  and 
passed  harmlessly  by,  the  incessant  creaking  and  groaning 
of  the  bulkheads  and  timbers,  the  continual  tossing  about, 
rolling  and  pitching,  and  convulsive  jerking  of  the  ship, 
which  seemed  at  such  a  moment  an  object  utterly  insignifi 
cant,  a  mere  plaything,  a  toy,  to  furnish  sport  for  the  ele 
ments,  all  constitute  a  scene  which  for  sublimity  probably 
has  no  parallel.  Indeed,  a  severe  gale  of  wind  in  a  stout 
ship,  well  manned,  and  so  skilfully  managed  as  to  preclude 
the  idea  of  imminent  peril,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
and  exciting  events  which  can  be  met  with  in  life.  It  is 
worth  almost  any  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  a  landsman  to  wit 
ness  and  enjoy. 

Mark's  apprehension  of  danger,  which  such  a  novel  and 
sublime  scene  would  naturally  excite,  were  greatly  lessened 
by  noting  the  calm  and  cheerful  manner  of  the  captain  and 
his  officers,  who  attended  to  their  various  duties  as  self- 
possessed  and  fearless  as  if  they  could  control  the  action  of 
the  elements. 

A  few  days  after  the  Saladin  had  been  visited  by  this 
tempest,  and  about  twenty  days  after  leaving  port,  one 
beautiful  morning  just  as  the  sun  was  rising  above  the  hori 
zon,  and  while  the  good  ship  was  sailing  along  with  a  light 
but  favorable  breeze  over  a  smooth  sea  at  the  rate  of  some 
three  or  four  knots,  Mark  Rowland,  who  was  standing  oppo 
site  the  galley,  looking  over  the  bulwarks  to  leeward,  his 


22      '  MARK  ROWLAND. 

thoughts  far  away,  was  hailed  by  Mr.  Jarls,  the  first  officer, 
whose  watch  was  on  deck  at  the  time,  and  ordered  to  go 
aloft,  take  a  look  around  the  horizon,  and  see  if  any  vessels 
were  in  sight.  Mark  sprang  into  the  rigging  with  alacrity, 
and  in  a  marvellous  short  time  was  on  the  fore-top-gallant 
yard,  scanning  with  a  pair  of  sharp  eyes  the  distant  hori 
zon. 

He  had  been  in  this  position  but  a  few  minutes  when  he 
called  to  the  mate  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Mr.  Jarls  !  Mr. 
Jarls ! " 

"Hallo!"  replied  that  vigilant  officer;  "what's  in  the 
wind  now?" 

"  I  see  something  on  the  water,"  said  Mark.  "  7Tis  not  a 
ship,  for  it  has  no  sails.  It  is  far  away,  in  that  direction," 
continued  Mark,  pointing  across  the  weather-bow. 

"  What  does  it  look  like?"  asked  the  mate. 

"It  looks  like  a  vessel  partly  sunk,  with  two  short  masts 
sticking  out  of  the  water,"  replied  the  boy. 

"Perhaps  it  is  Old  Neptune  himself,"  said  Mr.  Jarls, 
quietly,  "  taking  an  airing  by  steam !  But  we  are  not  far 
enough  along  for  him  yet.  He  will  undoubtedly  be  on  board 
in  good  time."  So  saying  the  mate  bounded  into  the  fore  rig 
ging,  and  in  a  few  seconds  was  on  the  fore-top-sail  yard.  He 
looked  intently  in  the  direction  indicated  by  Mark,  and  then 
in  his  loudest  tone  shouted,  "WRECK,  HO  \"  Captain  Somers, 
roused  out  of  his  sleep  by  the  rough  voice  of  the  mate  hail 
ing  the  fore-top-gallant  yard,  by  this  time  was  on  deck.  He 
immediately  ordered  the  studding-sails  to  be  taken  in,  the 
yards  braced  up,  and  the  ship  steered  in  the  direction  of  the 
wreck.  « 

A  wreck  at  sea  is  a  solemn  sight.  Every  true  sailor  feels 
deep  sympathy  for  others  in  distress,  and  will  labor  with 
might  and  main  to  render  assistance.  He  knows  not  how 
soon  he  may  be  in  the  same  unfortunate  plight  himself.  It 


SAILING  AWAY.  23 

was  soon  ascertained  that  the  wreck  was  that  of  a  ship  with 
her  masts  broken  off,  and  evidently  full  of  water.  As  the 
Saladin  drew  towards  the  wreck  something  like  a  flag  was 
seen  flying  a  few  feet  above  the  galley,  or  caboose-house. 

"  There  are  some  living  souls  on  board  that  hulk ! "  ex 
claimed  Captain  Somers,  with  unusual  energy,  "and  we 
must  rescue  them  from  their  terrible  situation,  at  all  hazards. 
Clear  away  the  quarter-boat,  Mr.  Smeaton ! "  said  he  to  the 
second  mate  ;  "  get  ready  to  start  for  the  wreck  as  soon  as 
we  lay  the  maintop-sail  to  the  mast." 

And  now  the  object  which  excited  so  much  interest  could 
be  plainly  seen  from  the  waist.  The  sea  was  comparatively 
smooth,  nevertheless  the  waves  washed  across  the  deck  from 
plankshear  to  plankshear,  giving  little  hope  of  finding  any 
living  person  attached  to  this  still  floating  wreck.  The  gal 
ley  seemed  split  and  shattered,  but  the  doors  were  apparently 
closed.  Nothing  bearing  the  resemblance  of  a  human  being 
was  seen  about  the  decks,  nor  were  there  any  signs  of  life. 
But  the  tattered  garment  fastened  to  a  small  spar,  and  dis 
played  from  the  top  of  the  caboose-house,  was  proof  enough 
that  some  one,  perhaps  more  than  one  of  that  ship's  company 
had  survived,  for  a  time  at  least,  the  terrible  disaster.  Were 
any  living  persons  now  on  board?  If  so,  how  wretched 
must  be  their  fate !  That  galley !  what  did  the  signal  on  its 
summit  portend  ? 

The  Saladin  continued  her  course  until  almost  within  hail 
of  the  sunken  vessel,  when  her  way  was  suddenly  stopped  by 
putting  the  helm  hard  down,  and  laying  the  maintop-sail 
aback.  The  quarter-boat  was  now  lowered,  and  Mr.  Smea- 
ton,,  with  a  stout  boat's  crew,  pushed  off  to  board  the  wreck. 
On  going  alongside,  no  living  being  was  visible ;  no  one 
came  forth  from  that  galley.  The  second  mate  hailed  and 
shouted  with  a  voice  loud  enough  to  have  awakened  the 


24  MARK  ROWLAND. 

Seven  Sleepers,  but  there  was  no  reply.  He  hailed  again 
and  again,  with  the  same  result. 

"  There  is  no  one  here ! "  he  exclaimed,  turning  round  to 
the  boat's  crew,  "  we  may  as  well  go  back  to  the  ship." 

"  I'll  take  a  look  into  that  galley  first,  sir,  if  you  have  no 
objection,"  said  Jack  Manwell,  a  whole-hearted  young  sailor 
belonging  to  Marblehead.  "  There's  no  knowing  what  sort 
of  treasures  we  may  find  there !  " 

The  officer  nodded  assent,  — he  could  not  well  refuse,  — 
and  Jack  jumped  on  the  main  deck  of  the  ill-fated  vessel. 
He  tried  to  open  the  nearest  door  of  the  caboose-house,  but 
found  the  operation  a  difficult  one ;  the  door  seemed  jammed, 
or  fastened  on  the  inside.  An  oar  was  passed  him  from  the 
boat,  by  the  aid  of  which  he  succeeded  in  forcing  open  the 
door,  when  a  sad  spectacle  was  presented  to  his  view. 

A  man,  pale,  haggard,  with  fixed,  staring  eyes,  preter- 
naturally  large,  and  an  expression  of  intolerable  anguish, 
which  was  truly  appalling  to  look  upon,  was  seated  on  the 
platform  of  the  caboose,  his  head  leaning  against  the  side  of 
the  galley.  Across  his  knees,  and  encircled  in  his  arms,  was 
the  body  of  a  woman,  with  her  head  hanging  down  and 
apparently  lifeless.  Both  were  almost  destitute  of  clothing. 
One  seemed  to  be  already  dead,  and  the  other  dying  of  cold 
and  hunger ! 

"Hallo,  shipmates!"  said  Jack  Manwell,  in  a  cheerful 
voice,  "  you  have  a  snug  berth  of  it  here,  all  to  yourselves. 
Come,  rouse  and  bitt !  There  are  better  lodgings  hard  by, 
with  pea-jackets  and  plenty  of  grub ;  for  you  seem  to  have 
been  on  short  allowance  of  everything  but  salt  water." 

The  man  made  no  attempt  to  rise  from  his  recumbent 
position.  He  stared  for  a  moment  vacantly  at  the  sailor, 
then  dropped  his  eyes  to  the  wilted  body  that  he  held  in  his 
arms,  and  faintly  murmured,  "  My  wife,  my  wife ! " 

"Oh,  never  mind  your  wife,"  said  Jack,  gently  disen- 


SAILING  AWAY.  0    25 

gaging  the  woman  from  the  arms  of  her  husband.  "  She 
will  do  well  enough  yet;  when  we  get  her  on  board  the 
Saladin,  we  will  bring  her  to  with  a  t  yeo  heave  O,'  and  a 
double-shuffle  to  come  up  with." 

By  this  time  Mr.  Smeaton  and  one  of  the  seamen  were  at 
the  door  of  the  galley.  The  woman  was  not  dead.  She 
had  fainted  from  exhaustion  ;  but  her  pulse  still  beat,  and 
she  exhibited  other  signs  of  life.  "\flTith  much  difficulty  she 
was  placed  in  the  boat.  Then  the  man,  who  was  unable  to 
walk,  or  even  stand  without  support,  was  assisted  across  the 
deck,  and  placed  by  the  side  of  his s  wife.  The  boat  was 
then  shoved  off,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  alongside  of  the 
Saladin,  to  leeward. 

These  two  unfortunate  beings,  with  the  utmost  care  and 
tenderness,  were  taken  on  board  the  ship,  the  rough-looking 
sailors  manifesting  the  most  heart-felt  sympathy  for  their 
wretched  condition.  They  were  carried  into  the  cabin ; 
warmth  was  imparted  to  their  limbs,  and  gentle  restoratives 
applied.  For  some  days  their  souls  seemed 'to  be  hovering 
on  the  verge  of  eternity,  but  by  careful  nursing  and  a  course 
of  judicious  treatment  on  the  part  of  Captain  Somers,  they 
both  revived,  gradually  recovered  strength,  and  were  finally 
restored  to  health.  More  than  a  week  passed,  however,  be 
fore  either  of  them  felt  able  to  communicate  the  details  of 
the  terrible  disaster,  of  which  they  had  been  the  victims. 

The  vessel  which  the  sharp  eyes  of  Mark  Rowland  dis 
covered  in  a  foundered  condition  was  the  ship  Cldrion,  of 
Salem,  bound  on  a  voyage  to  Maranham,  in  Brazil,  having  a 
quantity  of  lumber  in  the  hold,  and  her  "between  decks" 
filled  with  an  assortment  of  miscellaneous  articles.  In  this 
ship  Mr.  James  S.  Rivington,  a  merchant  who  had  been  for 
several  years  engaged  in  trade  with  the  north  coast  of  k 
Brazil,  had  taken  passage,  accompanied  by  his  wife.  These 
two  persons  were  the  only  passengers. 

3 


26  MARK  ROWLAND. 

The  Clarion  experienced  the  severe  gale  of  wind,  which 
the  Saladin  weathered  without  the  slightest  injury.  During 
the  gale  the  captain  of  the  Clarion  assured  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Klvington  that  there  was  no  cause  for  fear.  The  ship  was 
strongly  built,  in  good  condition,  and  an  excellent  sea-boat. 
In  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic,  with  plenty  of  sea-room,  they 
were  as  safe  with  such  a  mere  capful  of  wind,  as  if  stand 
ing  on  Boston  Common  on  a  summer's  day,  gazing  at  "  the 
big  elm."  This  assurance,  and  the  confident  aspect  of  the 
sailors,  as  they  attended  to  their  duties,  in  a  great  measure 
relieved  the  minds  of  the  passengers  from  a  load  of  anxiety. 

The  gale  continued  through  the  day  and  the  following 
night.  Towards  morning  Mr.  Rivington  heard  the  first 
officer  enter  the  cabin  and  tell  the  captain  that  there  was  a 
dangerous  sea  running,  and  the  ship  lay-to  badly,  often  fall 
ing  off  into  the  trough  of  the  sea.  The  captain  hastened  on 
deck,  and  soon  afterwards  the  second  mate,  who  had  the 
watch  below,  was  roused  out  to  lend  a  hand  to  get  the  ship 
off  the  wind  to  scud  before  the  gale. 

Mr.  Rivington  now,  with  his  state-rpoin  door  wide  open, 
eagerly  listened  for  sounds  on  deck  to  indicate  what  was 
going  on.  In  less  than  five  minutes  he  heard  the  captain 
give  the  orders,  "  Hoist  the  foretop-mast  stay-sail !  hard  up 
your  helm !  square  away  the  after-yards  ! "  A  great  tramp 
ling  was  then  heard  overhead,  which  was  soon  succeeded  by 
a  thundering  shock,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  cataract  of 
Niagara  had  been  poured  on  the  quarter-deck.  The  ship 
was  hurled  over  with  giant  force,  nearly  on  her  beam-ends ; 
every  timber  seemed  wrenched  from  its  place,  the  affrighted 
passengers  were  thrown  out  of  their  berths  against  the  bulk 
head,  badly  bruised  and  nearly  stunned,  and  the  cabin  was 
half  *  filled  with  water! 

As  soon  as  the  ship  righted,  and  the  overwhelming  wave, 
having  done  its  work  of  destruction,  quietly  rolled  away, 


SAILING  AWAY.  27 

Mr.  Rivington  and  his  wife,  confused,  terrified,  convinced 
that  some  dreadful  catastrophe  had  occurred,  waded  through 
the  water,  waist  deep,  to  the  companion-way,  and  groped 
their  way  to  the  deck,  as  to  a  place  of  comparative  safety. 

A  gloomy  spectacle  awaited  them  there.  The  sea  was 
making  a  fair  breach  over  the  decks,  but  not  a  human  being 
was  to  be  seen.  The  wind  screeched,  and  the  broken  spars 
thumped  against  the  sides  of  the  ship,  but  not  the  faintest 
sound  of  a  human  voice  reached  their  ears ! 

Mr.  Rivington,  horror-stricken  at  this .  sudden  disaster, 
shouted  for  the  captain,  for  the  mates,  for  some  living  being, 
but  received  no  answer.  Clinging  to  the  bulwarks,  *ind  at 
the  imminent  risk  of  his  life,  he  went  forward,  put  his  head 
down  the  fore-scuttle  and  hailed  the  crew,  but  the  only  re 
sponse  from  the  forecastle  was  the  plash  of  the  water  against 
the  bowsprit  bitts,  as  it  washed  backward  and  forward ! 

Darkness  and  the  dense  atmosphere  caused  by  a  mingling 
of  the  rain  and  the  spoondrift,  added  to  the  horrors  of  the 
scene.  The  wind  seemed  at  times  to  lull,  and  Mr.  Riving- 
ton  looked  anxiously  around  for  a  glimmering  of  daylight. 
He  could  not  conceal  from  himself  the  awful  fact  that  the 
ship  was  gradually  sinking,  and  that  all  hands,  officers  and 
sailors,  all,  had  been  swept  overboard  while  engaged  in  the 
attempt  to  get  the  ship  before  the  wind !  All  had  been 
called  without  a  moment's  warning,  to  appear  before  the 
judgment  seat  of  Qod ! 

The  fate  of  the  two  passengers  seemed  even  more  terrible 
than  that  of  the  crew.  Their  misery  was  prolonged,  with 
the  prospect  of  death  in  his  most  hideous  shape  not  far  off. 
They  were  exposed  without  shelter  or  clothing  on  the  deck 
of  the  sinking  vessel  to  the  whole  fury  of  the  tempest,  with 
sheets  of  salt  water  drenching  them  every  moment.  Mr. 
Rivington  lashed  his  wife  and  himself  to  the  fife-rail,  near 


28  MARK  ROWLAND. 

the  mizzen-mast,  and  in  this  wretched  condition  they  awaited 
the  abatement  of  the  gale  and  the  light  of  day. 

Daylight  came  at  last,  but  brought  no  comfort.  Although 
the  wind  had  diminished,  and  the  waves  had  partially  sub 
sided,  daylight  only  showed  the  unhappy  couple  more  dis 
tinctly  Jheir  forlorn  and  hopeless  condition.  The  ship's 
deck  amidships  was  now  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  ocean. 
The  mizzen-mast,  by  the  weight  of  the  sea  which  came  on 
board,  was  broken  off  about  six  feet  from  the  deck ;  the 
main-mast  was  broken  off  just  below  the  top,  and,  in  falling 
over  the  side,  carried  the  foretop-mast  along  with  it.  The 
ship's  boats,  spars,  barrels,  lumber,  and  movable  things  of 
every  description,  were  washed  overboard  by  the  destructive 
wave.  The  caboose-house  or  galley,  a  mere  box,  encasing 
the  cooking-stove  or  caboose,  situated  well  forward,  and 
strongly  lashed  to  kingbolts  in  the  deck,  was  left  stand 
ing,  but  was  shaken  and  shattered  by  the  angry  billows. 
These  facts  showed  beyond  doubt  that  while  all  hands  were 
aft  bracing  round  the  yards,  the  ship  had  been  struck  by  a 
combing  sea,  which  came  in  over  the  quarter,  and  spent  all 
its  force  on  the  after  part  of  the  vessel  and  the  waist. 

The  buoyant  nature  of  the  cargo  prevented  the  ship  from 
sinking,  although  full  of  water %  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bivington 
took  possession  of  the  galley  >  as  a  place  of  refuge,  but  their 
situation  was  pitiable  in  the  extreme.  Without  clothing  to 
protect  them  frem  the  weather,  without  provisions  of  any 
kind,  and  also  destitute  of  water,  in  the  midst  of  the  wide 
ocean,  with  no  prospect  of  being  seen  and  rescued  by  any 
passing  vessel,  during  the  few  days  of  intense  suffering  be 
fore  death  would  come  to  their  relief,  they  might  well  give 
themselves  up  to  despair ! 

Mr.  Rivington  found  in  the  galley  a  piece  of  an  old  gar 
ment  belonging  to  the  cook,  which  he  managed  to  hoist,  with 
but  faint  hope  that  it  would  be  seen  by  any  friendly  bark, 


SAILING  AWAY.  29 

and  contribute  to  their  deliverance.  Four  days  this  unfor 
tunate  couple  passed  in  this  dreadful  condition,  and  many 
and  fervent  were  their  prayers  to  the  Almighty  for  succor  in 
the  hour  of  need.  The  gnawings  of  hunger  and  thirst  drove 
them  almost  to  madness.  Their  strength  gradually  departed. 
Their  courage  failed  them,  and  even  the  faint  glimmerings 
of  hope  faded  away.  But  at  the  last  moment,  when  death 
had  already  marked  them  for  his  prey,  the  ship  Saladin  came 
sailing  along,  the  sharp  eyes  of  Mark  Rowland  saw  the 
wreck  afar  off,  and  the  husband  and  wife  were  taken  from 
the  wreck,  and  relieved  from  sufferings  too  acute  and  soul- 
rending  for  imagination  to  conceive. 


CHAPTER    in. 

SALT-WATER     MONSTERS. 

ON  the  night  after  Mr.  Rivington  ha'd  told  the  story  of  the 
disaster  with  its  thrilling  details,  Mark  Rowland  stayed  late 
on  deck  in  the  first  watch,  and  listened  to  the  conversation 
among  the  sailors,  who,  seated  cosily  on  the  heel  of  the 
bowsprit  or  the  windlass  end,  freely  discussed  subjects  con 
nected  with  the  wreck. 

."  Tis  a  great  pity,"  said  a  rough-looking  old  tar,  named 
Nicholas  Haxon,  who  had  passed  a  large  portion  of  his  life 
on  the  salt  water,  but  who  still  cherished  a  sailor's  charac-. 
teristic  devotion  for  the  gentler  sex ;  "  'tis  a  great  pity  that 
the  poor  woman  had  no  one  with  her  in  her  trouble  but  her 
husband,  a  fresh-water  chap,  who,  I'll  bet  a  biscuit, 'can't  tell 
the  difference  between  a  marline-spike  and  a  handspike,  and 
is  as  green  as  the  backbone  of  a  gar-fish.  If  a  real  sailor 
had  been  on  board  and  steered  clear  of  the  clutches  of  Davy 
Jones,  he  would  have  fished  up  something  to  wear  and 
something  to  eat,  and  would  have  contrived  a  better  lodg 
ing-place  than  that  old  galley." 

"Avast  there!"  exclaimed  Ned  Thrumbo,  one  of  his 
watch-mates  ;  "  clap  a  stopper  on  your  jaw  rope,  if  it  veers 
out  such  stuff  as  that.  The  ship  was  swamped,  and  her 
decks  were  cleared  of  everything  but  the  galley.  Nothing 
could  be  fished  from  the  steerage  or  the  cabin  without  a  div 
ing-bell  or  a  grapnell.  The  man  did  the  best  for  his  wife 
and  himself  that  could  be  done.  He  deserves  credit  rather 
than  blame  for  comforting  the  poor  woman,  holding  her  in 

30 


SALT-WATER   MONSTERS.  31 

his  amis  to  warm  her  chilled  frame,  and  keeping  her  alive 
as  long  as  he  did.  All  the  web-footed  gentry  in  the  world, 
had  they  been  on  board,  could  not  have  mended  the  matter, 
and  whoever  says  otherwise  is  a  fool  and  a  know-nothing. 
Poor  little  soul !  She  has  had  miser}'  enough  during  the 
last  week  to  make  her  despise  salt  water  for  the  rest  of  her 
life." 

"  She  is  doing  well  now,  and  so  is  her  husband,  according 
to  the  captain's  account,"  said  Jack  Manwell.  "It  was  a 
lucky  thing  that  we  fell  in  with  the  wreck  as  we  did.  A  few 
hours  more  would  have  brought  them  both  up  with  a  round 
turn.  That  was  a  bright  thought  of  Mr.  Jarls,  to  send  the 
cabin-boy  aloft  at  sunrise  to  take  a  look  around  the 
horizon." 

"  It  was  x  so ! "  exclaimed  Ned  Thrumbo,  with  energy. 
"If  I  had  the  power,  I  would  compel  every  skipper  that 
crosses  the  ocean  to  see  that  a  good  lookout  is  kept  from 
aloft  every  hour  in  the  day.  In  bad  weather  there  should 
be  a  crow's-nest  in  the  cross-trees,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
whalers.  We  know  not  how  many  lives  might  be  saved  by 
steering  such  a  course." 

"  Cases  have  been  known,"  said  Nicholas  Haxon,  "  where 
poor  sailors  clinging  to  a  raft  or  a  wreck,  have  been  passed 
quite  near,  almost  within  hail,  without  being  seen,  and  were 
afterwards  picked  up  by  some  vessel  that  kept  a  better 
lookout." 

" That's  true,"  said  Jack,  "and  I  often  go  aloft  and  take 
a  careful  look  round,  half  expecting  to  see  some  brother 
sailor  on  a  floating  spar,  or  clinging  to  a  life-buoy.  Some 
captains,  however,  care  not  a  ropeyarn  for  such  things,  so 
long  as  they  make  quick  and  safe  passages.  Aye,  and 
some  there  are  who  would  not  go  a  point  out  of  their  way  to 
take  a  poor  fellow  off  a  wreck,  if  they  fell  in  with  one." 

"  Hallo ! "  said  Ned  Thrumbo,  ever  disposed  to  look  on 


32  MARK  ROWLAND. 

the  bright  side,  "  you  have  lost  your  reckoning,  Jack !  No 
satlor  would  refuse  to  lend  a-  helping  hand  to  a  shipmate  in 
distress.  If  such  a  fellow  could  be  found,  and  I  had  my 
way,  he  should  be  fed  for  six  months  on  a  short  allowance 
of  gulf-weed  and  bilge-water,  and  touched  up  with  a  rope's 
end  every  hour  while  he  lives  on  such  diet." 

"  And  serve  him  right,  too !  "  said  Jack  Manwell.  "  But, 
as  Nicholas  says,  such  cases  Jiave  occurred ;  some  such  har 
dened  scoundrels  have  sailed  the  ocean ;  but  I  may  say  for 
the  credit  of  human  nature  in  general,  and  salt-water  life  in 
particular,  are  very  seldom  met  with,  and  when  met  with, 
should  have  the  mark  of  a  Cain  stamped  on  their  foreheads, 
that  they  may  be  known  on  sea  or  on  land." 

"  I  have  heard  of  such  monsters,  but  never  -believed  in 
them,"  said  Ned ;  "  I  always  looked  upon  such  stories  as  a 
slander  on  the  whole  web-footed  tribe.  Did  you  ever  Jcnow 
a  case,  Jack,  where  a  crew  was  left  to  perish  in  a  sinking 
ship,  by  an  unfeeling  ship-master  ?  " 

"Yes,"  promptly  replied  Jack  Manwell;  "it  happened 
before  I  was  born,  in  the  year  1807.  I  have  heard  my 
mother  tell  all  about  it  thousands  of  times,  and  she  was  one 
of  the  principal  actors  in  the  play.  At  the  time,  it  was 
much  talked  of  all  over  the  country,  and  many  years  will 
pass  away  before  it  is  forgotten  in  Marblehead,  where,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  the  monster  lived." 

"  What  was  his  name  ?  "  asked  Ned. 

"  His  name  was  Floyd  Ireson,  and  he  was  skipper  of  a 
fishing  schooner.  Returning  one  fall  from  the  Banks,  and 
when  only  a  f£w  hours'  sail  from  port,  he  fell  in  with  a 
wreck,  on  which  were  three  or  four  helpless  creatures  cling 
ing  to  the  rigging,  and  dying  by  inches.  The  heartless 
skipper  would  not  go  to  their  assistance,  and  when  remon 
strated  with  by  one  of  his  men,  he  clinched  his  refusal  wit. 


SALT-WATER   MON3TER3.  33 

a  disgusting  oath,   and  kept  on  the   course   towards  his 
home." 

"  And  was  there  not  heart  and  manliness  enough  among 
the  crew,"  asked  Ned  Thrumbo,  "to  wrest  the  vessel  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  skipper,  and  steer  a  straight  course  for  the 
sinking  wreck  ?  " 

"  That  would  never  do,"  said  Nicholas  Haxon.  "  Such 
doings  would  be  mutiny,  and  the  whole  crew  would  be  im 
prisoned  for  life,  or  strifng  up  by  the  gills  like  a  parcel  of 
stock-fish.  Obey  orders  if  you  break  owners,  is  my  doc 
trine,  and  a  safe  one." 

"  But  not  mine  when  the  lives  of  fellow-creatures  are  at 
stake,"  rejoined  the  warm-hearted  Ned  Thrumbo;  "and  I 
don't  believe  a  jury,  even  of  landsmen,  would  hang  a  man 
or  send  him  to  the  State  prison  for  doing  what  everybody 
knows  is  right  in  the  eyes  of  God  and  man." 

"The  cowardly  fellows  in  the  fishing  schooner  did  not 
steer  according  to  your  chart,  Ned,"  said  Jack  Manwell,  re 
suming  the  thread  of  his  narrative.  "  They .  condemned  the 
cruel  conduct  of  the  skipper,  but  had  not  courage  to  put  the 
stony-hearted  scoundrel  in  irons,  take  possession-  of  the 
schooner,  and  take  off  those  unfortunate  men  from  the 
wreck.  The  vessel  in  a  few  hours  arrived  in  the  harbor  of 
Marblehead,  and  the  men  hastened  ashore  and  created  a 
great  commotion  among  the  people  by  exposing  the  conduct* 
of  the  skipper.  A  vessel  was  immediately  despatched  to 
look  for  the  wreck  anfl  rescue  any  of  the  poor  fellows  who 
might  be  living.  But  it  was  too  late ;  the  wreck  was  never 
found,  and  the  unfortunate  men  who  were  seen  lashed  -to  the 
rigging,  and  raising  their  hands,  imploring  assistance,  with 
out  doubt  miserably  perished." 

"And  what  became  of  the  skipper?"  inquired  Ned 
Thrumbo.  "  Was  there  no  law  to  bring  him  to  his  bear- 


34  MARK  ROWLAND. 

ings,  and  give  him  a  taste  of  the  cat-o'-nine-tails  ?    I  should 
like  to  have  been  the  boatswain's  mate  to  lay  it  on." 

"No  law  could  reach  him  for  such  an  act,"  said  Jack. 
"But  the  people — old  and  young,  men,  women,  and  children 
—  collected  together,  and  resolved  to  punish  him.  At  first, 
they  determined  to  lynch  him  by  hanging  him  to  a  sign 
post*  But  this  plan  was  abandoned.  Nevertheless,  his 
house  was  surrounded,  and  he  was  hauled  out  of  his  hiding- 
place,  pale  and  trembling,  and  begging  for  mercy.  He  re 
ceived  on  the  spot  many  kicks  and  cuffs  from  his  indignant 
townsmen,  and  was  then  stripped  to  the  skin  and  gloriously 
tarred  and  feathered,  until  he  looked  like  a  giant  penguin. 
He  was  hoisted  on  a  platform  in  a  cart  drawn  by  oxen,  and 
carried  in  procession  through  every  part  of  the  town,  amid 
the  hootings  and  curses  of  the  populace.  He  was  severely 
punished  for  his  barbarity.  Some  months  passed  before  he 
recovered  from  the  injuries  he  received,  and  he  never  went 
to  sea  afterwards  in  any  capacity ;  but  remained  in  Marble- 
head,  where  he  lived  for  many  years,  universally  despised. 
Whenever  he  appeared  in  the  streets,  which  was  not  often, 
the  boys  would  mock  him  and  hallo  after  him,  or  sing  in 
rude  chorus,  — 

"  '  There  goes  Floyd  Ireson,  who,  for  his  hard  heart, 
"Was  tarred  and  feathered  and  carried  in  a  cart 
By  the  women  of  Marblehead.' " 

"  And  served  him  right,"  said  Ned.  "  'Tis  a  pity,  though, 
that  they  had  not  lynched  him  at  once,  while  they  had  a 
chance.  Such  a  fellow  did  not  deserve  to  live,  and  the  laws 
which  would  not  hang  such  a  fellow  are  not  worth  a  piece  of 
old  junk." 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rivington  had  been  a  fortnight  on 
board  the  Saladin,  a  ship  was  seen  astern  rapidly  coming  up. 
It  proved  to  be  the  ship  Primrose,  of  New  York,  bound  to 


SALT-WATER   MONSTERS.  5 

Pernambuco.  The  Primrose  was  hove-to  at  the  request  of 
Captain  Somers,  who  went  on  board  and  related  to  the  mas 
ter  of  the  Primrose  the  distressing  circumstances  connected 
with  the  foundering  of  the  Clarion,  and  the  rescue  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rivington  from  the  wreck,  and  also  stating  that  it 
was  their  earnest  wish  to  be  transferred  to  the  Primrose  and 
landed  at  Pernambuco. 

To  this  arrangement  no  objection  wag  made,  and  the  two 
passengers,  after  expressing  their  warmest  thanks  to  Cap 
tain  Somers,  his  officers  and  crew,  for  their  gallant  and  gen 
erous  conduct,  and  assuring  Mark  Rowland  that  they  should 
never  forget  his  services,  but  remember  him  with  kind  and 
grateful  feelings,  as  it  was  his  sharp  eyes  which  discovered 
the  wreck,  left  the  Saladin,  amid  the  loudly-expressed  kind 
wishes  and  cheers  of  the  sailors,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were 
on  board  the  Primrose  on  their  way  to  Pernambuco. 

As  the  ship  Saladin  advanced  into  the  tropical  latitudes, 
new  wonders  excited  ,the  admiration  of  Mark  Rowland.  He 
beheld  the  flights  of  flying-fish  as  they  gracefully  skimmed 
along  over  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  sometimes  in  sport,  and 
sometimes  to  escape  from  the  jafrs  of  some  devouring  mon 
ster  ;  he  beheld  the  enormous  masses  and  belts  of  gulf-weed 
which  the  ship  passed  through  day  after  day,  and  week  after . 
week,  in  that  part  of  the  Atlantic  known  as  the  Sargossa 
Sea,  and  which  serves  as  the  habitation  of  myriads  of  shell 
fish  of  many  varieties  ;  he  saw  the  dolphin,  —  not  the  tunny- 
fish,  the  dolphin  of  the  ancients,  but  the  beautiful,  swift, 
and  graceful  animal,  clad  in  purple  and  gold,  which  sailors 
love  to  look  upon  and  welcome  on  board,  for  they  always 
anticipate  with  his  coming  the  pleasant  idea  of  "  a  glorious 
chowder  for  all  hands."  He  saw  the  boneta,  the  albicore, 
and  the  barracooter,  and  on  one  occasion  narrowly  escaped 
being  devoured  by  a  shark ! 

This  startling  event  took  place  one  pleasant  afternoon, 


36  MARK  ROWLAND. 

•  when  some  sixty  or  eighty  miles  to  the  westward  of  the 
Cape  de  Verde  Islands.  The  easterly  breeze  which  had 
been  gradually  lessening  for  some  days  had  almost  died 
away,  and  the  ship  had  hardly  steerage  way,  moving  through 
the  water  at  the  rate  of  only  one  or  one  and  a  half  knots. 
A  goodly  supply  of  fowls  had  been  put  on  board  in  Boston, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  lived  in  the  cabin,  and  many  of 
them  still  remained  in  the  coops.  These  were  under  the 
direct  charge  of  the  cabin-boy ;  but  Mr.  Smeaton,  the  second 
officer,  also  took  an  interest  in  their  welfare,  and  from  a 
motive  not  altogether  unselfish,  inasmuch  as  he  was  very 
fond  of  fowls,  especially  when  served  up  in  the  form  of  a 
fricassee,  or  curried-stew,  or  a  chicken-pie. 

About  six  bells,  or  three  o'clock,  while  Mr.  Smeaton  and 
the  watch  on  deck  were  forward  attending  to  some  necessary 
duty,  and  Mr.  Jarls  was  writing  his  log  in  the  cabin,  and 
Captain  Somers  was  taking  a  quiet  nap  in  his  state-room, 
one  of  the  inmates  of  the  coop,  a  stately  rooster,  an  especial 
favorite,  seeing  no  one  on  the  quarter-deck  but  the  helms 
man,  who  was  nodding  at  his  post,  and  finding  the  door  of 
his  prison-house  unfastened,  owing  to  some  unaccountable 
neglect,  gravely  walked  out  to  take  a  more  extended  survey 
of  matters  and  things  on  deck. 

He  seemed  to  find  them  much  to  his  liking,  and  was  taking 
a  stroll  to  the  lee  side  of  the  quarter-deck,  looking  as  big  as 
a  newly-created  millionaire,  when  Mr.  Smeaton  espied  him. 
He  was  surprised  to  see  the  favorite  bird  strutting  about 
at  liberty,  and  alarmed  lest  he  should  be*  lost,  immediately 
began  to  devise  measures  for  his  capture.  He  commanded 
every  man  to  remain  motionless,  and  not  say  a  word,  and 
slowly  crept  aft  himself,  at  the  same  time  making  a  sign  to 
Peter  Flam,  the  man  at  the  helm,  to  come  forward  in  the 
same  stealthy  manner,  and  be  prepared  to  lay  violent  hands 
on  the  fugitive  fowl  when  off  his  guard. 


SALT-WATER  MONSTERS.  37 

This  mode  of  proceeding  was  shrewdly  devised,  and 
might,  perhaps,  have  been  carried  into  successful  execu 
tion,  had  not  another  actor  come  forward,  whose  part  was 
not  in  the  programme,  and  who,  to  the  inexpressible  indig 
nation  of  the  second  mate,  exploded  the  whole  of  his  plan 
just  as  it  was  being  carried  into  effect. 

Mark  Rowland  happened  to  be  in  the  cabin  at  this  time, 
and,  of  course,  knew  nothing  of  what  was  taking  place  on 
deck.  He  was  called  upon  by  Mr.  Jarls,  and  directed  to  go 
up  and  ask  Mr.  Smeaton  about  the  ship's  course. and  rate  of 
sailing  during  the  morning  watch,  which  the  second  mate 
had  neglected  to  record  on  the  log-slate.  Mark  rushed  up 
the  companion-way  in  his  usual  lively  and  energetic  manner, 
and  turning  short  round  to  leeward,  came  almost  in  contact 
with  the  rooster  just  as  Peter  Flam  had  stretched  out  his 
hand  to  grab  the  foolish  bird  by  the  leg ! 

The  result  was  an  unfortunate  one.  The  bird,  frightened 
out  of  all  propriety,  uttered  a  sharp  cry,  half  cackle  and 
half  crow,  and  spreading  his  wings,  and  giving  a  convulsive 
start,  with  a  hop,  step,  and  jump,  rose  from  the  deck,  just 
cleared  the  quarter-rail,  flew  off  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  from 
the  ship,  and  alighted  on  the  water,  in  which  unenviable 
position,  apparently  ashamed  and  alarmed  at  the  strange 
mistake  he  had  made,  he  looked  towards  the  ship  as  if  be 
seeching  to  be  taken  on  board  again. 

But  the  wrath  of  the  second  officer,  when  he  saw  the 
rooster  take  wing  and  fly  overboard,  was  overpowering,  and 
poor  Mark  was  doomed  to  feel  the  brunt  of  his  indignation. 
"  You  idle,  good-for-nothing  monkey,"  said  he,  "  you  have 
driven  overboard  a  bird  worth  more  than  all  your  tribe.  I 
never  saw  a  cabin-boy  yet  that  earned  his  salt.  They  al 
ways  do  ten  times  more  mischief  than  they  are  worth ;  and 
for  two  coppers,  I  would  kick  you  overboard  to  follow  the 
bird." 

* 


38  MARK  ROWLAND. 

Mark  was  astonished,  and  greatly  hurt,  at  receiving  this 
unmerited  broadside.  He  looked  hard  at  the  mate,  then  over 
the -side  of  the  ship  upon  the  smooth  water,  and  then  at  the 
rooster  buoyantly  resting  on  its  surface.  He  was  a  good 
swimmer,  having  practised  during  the  summer  months  in 
Rhadamanthus  Pond,  a  dark  sheet  of  water  situated  but  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  his  mother's  dwelling.  It  occurred  to 
him  that  if  he  had,  although  unconsciously,  been  the  cause 
of  such  a  mighty  piece  of  mischief  as  was  represented  by 
Mr.  Smeaton,  his  proper  course  would  be  to  recover  the  lost 
bird,  and  thus  expiate  the  fault  committed.  And  merely 
nodding  to  the  officer,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I  will  make  it  all 
right,  sir,  directly,"  he  jumped  upon  the  taffrail,  plunged 
head  foremost  into  the  water,  and  with  lusty  strokes  began 
to  swim  away  towards  the  bird. 

Mr.  Smeaton  recovered  his  senses  when  he  saw  Mark 
mount  the  taffrail,  and  commanded  him  in  a  loud  voice  to 
step  down.  But  it  was  too  late.  Mr.  Jarls,  hearing  the 
various  noises,  betokening  something  serious,  came  rush 
ing  on  deck,  closely  followed  by  the  captain.  Some  of  the 
sailors  seeing  Mark  in  the  water,  shouted,  "A  man  over 
board  !  "  which  roused  all  hands  on  deck  in  a  hurry.  Mr. 
Jarls  ordered  the  helm  to  be  put  hard  down,  the  tacks  and 
bowlines  to  be  let  go,  and  the  yards  squared,  to  stop  the 
ship's  progress.  The  captain  ordered  the  stern-boat  to  be 
cleared  away  and  lowered,  and  greatly  alarmed  at  Mark's 
foolhardiness,  called  aloud  to  him,  "  Come  back,  Mark,  come 
back !  Never  mind  the  fowl !  Come  back,  or  you'll  be 
drowned ! " 

.-    Altogether  there  was  a  wonderful  commotion  suddenly 
conjured  up  on  the  decks  of  the  Salactin. 

Mark,  who  could  not  conceive  of  the  possibility  of  danger 
in  swimming  in  such  smooth  water,  kept  on  his  course  to 
secure  the  fowl,  now  some  fifteen  or  twenty  fathoms  from 


SALT-WATER   MONSTERS.      .  89 

the  ship.  The  stern-boat  was  lowered  with  all  possible  dis 
patch,  and  Mr.  Jarls  sprang  into  it,  with  a  couple  of  sailors, 
who  seized  the  oars  and  began  to  pull  towards  the  cabin- 
boy,  when  all  at  once  a  vlarge,  dark-looking  object  shot  out 
from  beneath  the  ship,  rose  nearly  to  the  surface,  and  swam 
swiftly  away,  following  in  the  wake  of  Mark  Rowland. 

"  A  shark !  a  shark ! "  exclaimed  the  sailors,  in  a  tone  of 
horror. 

"  God  have  mercy  on  the  poor  boy !  "  said  Captain  Som- 
ers ;  "  but  I  fear  'tis  all  over  with  him.  Mr.  Jarls/'  he  con 
tinued,  hailing  the  mate,  "  do  you  see  the  shark?  Give  way, 
men,  and  save  the  poor  fellow  from  the  monster's  jaws.  Mr. 
Jarls,  seize  the  boat-hook,  and  fight  him  off." 

The  mate  had  seen  the  shark,  and  the  men  were  pulling 
with  all  their  strength ;  but  the  shark  took  the  lead,  paying 
no  attention  to  the  boat,  and  Mr.  Jarls,  acting  on  the  sug 
gestion  of  Captain  Somers,  seized  the  boat-hook,  a  staff 
some  six  or  eight  feet  long,  with  a  hook  and  a  stout  spike  at 
the  end.  He  now  took  his  stand  in  the  bow,  and  gave  direc 
tions  to  the  men  how  to  pull.  Meanwhile  Mark,  utterly 
unconscious  of  his  danger,  intent  only  on  capturing  the 
fowl,  had  nearly  reached  the  fugitive,  and  slackened  his 
efforts  with  a  view  to  lay  his  hand  gently  upon  him.  This 
gave  a  fine  opportunity  for  the  shark,  which  had  now  ranged 
alongside  the  cabin-boy,  to  seize  upon  his  prey,  —  an  oppor 
tunity  which  he  did  not  neglect.  The  ferocious  animal 
turned  over  on  his  side,  that  he  might  more  conveniently 
snap  off  one  or  both  of  the  legs,  which,  in  a  very  appetizing 
manner,  were  dangling  in  the  water. 

But  the  boat  came  thundering  on,  with  Mr.  Jarls,  a  stout, 
muscular  man,  in  the  bow,  with  a  formidable  weapon  in  his 
hands.  Just  as  the  shark  had  assumed  a  convenient  atti 
tude,  and  was  about  to  take  the  first  bite  from  the  tempting 
repast  which  chance  had  thrown  in  his  way,  the  spike  of  the 


40  MARK  ROWLAND. 


boat-hook  came  down  on  the  side  of  his  devoted  head, 
crashed  through  the  bones,  and  doubtless  penetrated  the 
brain.  The  shark  acknowledged  the  force  of  the  blow  by 
leaping  nearly  out  of  water,  then  swam  off  rapidly  with  the 
boat-hook  sticking  in  his  cranium,  pursuing  a  very  crooked 
course,  and  finally  disappeared  altogether  in  the  depths 
below ! 

Mark  was  picked  up  and  taken  on  board,  and  also  the 
foolish  fowl,  which  had  been  the  cause  of  so  much  trouble, 
and  which,  by  Captain  Somers's  orders,  was  handed  over  to 
the  steward  to  furnish,  the  next  day,  a  sea-pie  for  the  cabin 
dinner.  Mark  was  rebuked  by  the  captain  for  his"  folly  in 
jumping  overboard  at  sea,  under  any  circumstances,  and 
admonished  to  stick  by  the  ship  in  all  weathers ;  and  having 
been  greatly  startled  when  told  of  his  narrow  escape  from 
the  shark,  he  faithfully  promised  that  he  would  never  again 
expose  himself  to  such  a  danger,  unless  to  save  the  life  of  a 
fellow-creature. 

That  evening,  in  the  dog-watch,  the  startling  incidents  of 
the  day  were  fully  discussed  on  the  quarter-deck  and  on  the 
forecastle.  Captain  Somers  referred  to  the  well-known  case 
of  the  British  man-of-war  in  Port  Royal,  Jamaica.  This 
ship  had  occasion  to  lay  at  anchpr  in  the  harbor  a  long  time, 
and  the  captain,  finding  his  men  frequently  deserting  by 
swimming  ashore  during  the  night,  tolled  the  sharks  around 
by  feeding  them  occasionally  with  choice  morsels  of  food. 
One  of  these  sharks,  of  great  size  and  ferocity,  known  as 
"  Big  Tom,"  was  particularly  vigilant  as  a  guard,  prowling 
around  at  all  hours,  within  sight  of  the  ship,  and  gobbling 
up  sailor  after  sailor  in  their  attempts  to  escape  by  swim 
ming  from  the  horrors  of  a  British  man-of-war.  But  unfor 
tunately  Big  Tom  could  not  be  taught  to  distinguish  between 
friend  and  foe,  and  he  finally  lost  the  confidence  of  the  cap 
tain,  who  even  persecuted  him  to  death  because  the  stupid 


SALT-WATER   MONSTERS.  41 

brute  one  evening  gobbled  up  the  captain's  son,  a  young 
"  middy,"  who,  being  more  than  half  drunk,  fell  overboard 
while  getting  out  of  the  boat  alongside.  And  but  little  sym 
pathy  did  the  captain  get  from  the  crew  for  the  loss  of  his 
son. 

"  The  narrow  escape  which  Mark  Rowland  had  to-day 
from  the  jaws  of  a  shark,"  said  Mr.  Jarls  to  Captain  Som- 
ers,  "reminds  me  of  an  incident  of  a  similar  character, 
which  I  once  witnessed  in  Manilla,  when  I  was  a  sailor  on 
board  the  ship  Vashti,  belonging  to  Newburyport.  One  Sun 
day,  while  the  ship  was  lying  at  anchor  at  Cavite,  a  portion 
of  the  crew  bad  liberty  to  go  ashore,  and,  as  is  too  often  the 
case,  when  they  came  on  board  in  the  afternoon,  some  of 
them  were  greatly  the  worse  for  liquor,  and  of  course  par 
tially  bereft  of  reason,  transformed  for  the  time  from  rational 
beings  into  brutes.  Among  these  was  an  old  salt,  who  went 
by  the  name  of  Dan  Colwell.  He  came  on  board  in  another 
ship's  boat,  about  four  o'clock,  crazy  drunk,  and  stormed 
about  the  deck,  making  great  noise  and  confusion,  until 
compelled  to  go  below  by  the  officers. 

"  A  few  minutes  after  Dan  Colwell  went  below,  a  large 
shark  made  his  appearance  not  far  from  the  ship,  slowly 
moving  about  just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water,  with  his 
back  fin  and  the  upper  part  of  his  tail  sticking  out,  as  if 
to  warn  all  living  creatures  in  that  neighborhood  to  be  on 
their  guard.  His  appearance,  of  course,  caused  no  little 
excitement.  There  was  much  running  about  the  decks,, loud 
inquiries  made  for  the  shark-hook,  harpoon,  &c.,  and  sug 
gestions  about  getting  ready  a  running  bowline. 

"  Dan  Colwell,  who  had  been  persuaded  by  his  shipmates 
to  turn  in,  in  order  to  sleep  off  the  effect  of  his  strong  pota 
tions,  no  sooner  heard  the  word  '  shark,'  than  he  rolled  out 
of  his  berth,  and  followed  his  shipmates  on  deck. 

"'  Where  is  the  man-eating  rascal?'   cried  Dan.    'Let 

4* 


42  MARK   ROWLAND. 

me  come  at  Mm.  I  am  just  in  the  trim  to  astonish  him,  — 
to  cut  him 'up  into  minced  meat,  or  slit  him  into  strips  for  a 
lobscouse ! '  So  saying,  he  opened  his  large  jack-knife, 
which  hung  by  a  laniard  around  his  neck,  and,  before  his 
shipmates  could  prevent  him,  or  indeed  guess  what  was  his 
intention,  he  threw  himself  over  the  gunwale  into  the  water, 
and  struck  out  boldly  towards  the  sea-monster,  that  was 
plainly  in  sight,  swimming  away  some  twenty  or  thirty 
yards  off. 

"The  shark,  hearing  the  splash  in  the  water,  turned 
round,  and  after  a  sort  of  inquiring  pause,  began  to  swim 
slowly  towards  the  ship.  He  soon  espied  Dan,  and  quick 
ened  his  motions,  probably  with  the  expectation  of  making 
a  hearty  meal  of  a  tough  old  sailor. 

"  The  crew,  of  course,  were  greatly  alarmed  at  the  dan 
ger  which  threatened  their  drunken  shipmate,  and  clamor 
ously  insisted  on  his  coming  back  to  the  ship.  But  Dan  was 
obstinate,  and  kept  on  his  course,  and  before  anything  could 
be  done  by  those  on  board  for  his  succor,  the  shark  was 
by  his  side,  and  fixed  upon  him  his  glittering  eye,  and  seemed 
in  a  very  loving  mood. 

"  The  poor  fellow's  senses,  which  had  been  wandering, 
suddenly  resumed  their  usual  functions.  He  became  sober 
as  if  by  magic,  and  realized  his  danger  to  its  full  extent. 
He  knew  that  his  own  folly  or  madness  had  placed  him  in  a 
most  perilous  position.  He  turned  and  swam  towards  the 
ship,  exerting  all  the  strength  of  which  he  was  master.  He 
was  closely  followed  by  the  shark,  which  animal,  it  is  well 
known,  will  seldom  or  never  attack  a  man  while  vigorously 
swimming  or  moving  about  in  the  water,  as  he  has  to  turn 
on  his  side  before  he  can  seize  his  prey,  owing  to  the  peculiar 
construction  of  his  jaws. 

"  Dan  Colwell,  in  an  agony  of  alarm,  cried  out  right  ear- 


SALT-WATER   MONSTERS.  43 

nestty  for  help.     '  Oh,  Mr.  Hardoc,  save  me  from  the  shark ! 
Help !  help !  help  ! ' 

"  His  screams  and  appeals  for  help  were  heard  all  over  the 
harbor,  but  there  was  little  chance  for  help  at  that  particu 
lar  time.  The  small  boat  was  ashore  with  the  captain,  and 
the  long  boat  was  on  the  other  side  and  without  oars,  which 
were  quietly  reposing  on  the  deck  of  the  ship,  and  help  to 
be  effective  must  be  immediate.  The  chief  mate,  however, 
was  a  man  of  great  presence  of  mind,  and  his  resources  in 
an  emergency  seemed  inexhaustible.  He  called  to  the  stew 
ard  to  hand  him  the  musket  from  the  cabin.  This  musket 
was  one  of  a  dozen  clumsy-looking  but  formidable  weapons, 
put  on  board  for  defence  in  case  of  an  attack  from  pirates. 
It  had  been  recently  used  by  the  captain  in  shooting  gulls 
and  other  water  fowl,  on  the  passage,  and  was  now  standing 
in  a  corner  of  the  cabin,  loaded  with  a  heavy  charge  of 
powder  and  swan  shot. 

"  The  musket  was  almost  instantly  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  mate,  who,  with  wonderful  dexterity,  drew  out  the 
heavy  iron-  ramrod,  picked  a  ropey arn  from  the  deck  and 
wound  it  around  the  end,  and  then  thrust  it  into  the  ban-el 
of  the  gun.  He  cocked  the  gun,  and '  pointing  it  in  the 
direction  of  Dan  Colwell  and  his  companion,  held  himself 
in  readiness  to  act.  All  this  passed  in  a  much  quicker 
period  of  time  than  it  requires  to  relate  it. 

"  In  the  mean  while  Dan  was  swimming  back  to  the  ship, 
his  features  distorted  with  terror,  and  still  roaring  for  help, 
and  the  shark  sticking  to  him  closer  than  a  brother.  The 
second  mate  stood  by  with  the  harpoon,  ready  to  make  war 
upon  the  shark.  One  of  the  men  had  armed  himself  with 
the  five-pronged  grainse,  and  assumed  a  hostile  attitude. 
Men  also  stood  ready  to  lend  a  hand  in  the  rescue  of  their 
shipmate,  some  in  the  main  chain-wales,  and  some  on  deck, 
with  ropes  and  poles,  bowlines  and  buoys. 


44  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"  Dan  had  nearly  reached  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  was 
about  grasping  a  bowline  which  one  of  his  shipmates  had 
thrown  to  him  to  clap  round  his  waist,  when  the  shark,  deter 
mined  not  to  be  cheated  out  of  his  prey,  placed  himself  in 
a  position  to  take  the  first  mouthful  of  such  a  tempting 
morsel. 

"  And  now  all  the  ropes  and  bowlines  and  boats  and 
shouts  in  the  world  would  have  little  availed  Dan  Colwell, 
and  he  would  have  been  food  for  a  fish,  perhaps  for  fishes, 
if  Mr.  Hardoc  had  not  taken  deliberate  aim  at  the  sea-mon 
ster,  and  pulled  the  trigger  just  as  he  was  showing  his  glis 
tening  teeth.  The  noise  of  the  gun,  and  the  shot  striking  the 
water  around  the  shark,  must  have  astonished  him  greatly, 
but  the  iron  ramrod,  which  passed  right  through  his  body, 
did  more.  The  monster  abandoned  his  prey,  floundered 
about  a  few  minutes,  seeming  bewildered,  and  then  probably 
sank  to  the  bottom,  for  we  saw  him  no  more. 

"  Dan  Colwell  was  taken  on  board,  more  dead  than  alive. 
I  never  saw  a  man  so  terribly  frightened  in  my  life.  He 
dropped  on  his  knees  as  soon  as  he  reached  the  deck,  and 
devoutly  thanked  God  for  saving  him  from  the  jaws  of  the 
shark,  and  he  took  a  solemn  oath  on  the  spot  that  he  would 
never  taste  a  drop  of  spirituous  liquors  again,  and  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  he  kept  his  word." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A   SOLITARY  CRUISE. 

WHILE  the  officers  were  busily  engaged  on  the  quarter 
deck  in  discussing  the  subject  of  sea-monsters,  a  subject  sug 
gested  by  the  events  of  the  day,  the  men  belonging  to  tho 
watch,  cosily  seated  on  the  spare  spars  under  the  lee  of  the 
long-boat,  took  up  another  subject  of  equal  interest,  which 
was  also  suggested  by  those  occurrences.  They  spoke  of 
the  evil  consequences  of  jumping  overboard,  and  swimming 
away  from  the  ship,  even  during  a  calm  at  sea,  and  related 
several  cases  where  fatal  results  had  ensued  from  thus  in 
dulging  in  a  foolish  whim  or  a  frolicsome  disposition. 
"  You  are  right,  shipmates,"  said  Sam  Welkin,  an  old 
sailor,  of  a  robust  frame,  with  a  grave  countenance  and  quiet 
habits,  who  talked  a  great  deal,  talked  well,  too,  but  had 
hitherto  been  an  attentive  listener  to  the  conversation.  "  A 
man  should  stick  to  his  ship,  whether  it  blows  high  or  blows 
low ;  and  when  on  the  broad  ocean,  or  thumping  against  a 
rock-bound  shore  in  a  gale  of  wind,  should  never  abandon 
his  ship  for  a  moment  and  trust  to  his  skill  in  swimming." 

"  But  suppose  he  tumbles  into  the  big  pond  by  accident?  "• 
inquired  Jack  Manwell. 

"  He  could  not  meet  with  worse  luck !  "  said  Sam  Welkin, 
with  a  shudder.  "  But  that  will  not  be  his  fault,  and  he 
must  do  the  best  he  can,  with  the  chances  terribly  against 
his  ever  lounging  on  a  ship's  forecastle,  or  getting  a  glimpse 

45 


46  MARK  ROWLAND. 

of  an  old  landmark  or  light-house  again.  Did  you  ever  fall 
overboard  at  sea,  Jack?  " 

"Never,  shipmate,"  replied  Jack.  "I  never  met  with 
such  bad  luck.  I  was  jerked  off  the  foretop-sail  yard  one 
dark  night,  while  reefing  top-sails  on  board  the  brig  Tarantula 
in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  bound  to  Bordeaux  ;  and  while  one  of 
my  shipmates,  poor  fellow,  who  was  on  the  lee  yard-arm, 
was  tossed  into  the  water  some  dozen  fathoms  from  tjie  ship's 
side,  and  was  never  heard  of  afterwards,  I  was  gently 
landed  in  the  foretop,  with  only  a  sprained  wrist  and  a 
bruised  figure-head." 

"  When  I  was  in  the  ship  Dagon,  bound  to  Greenock,  and 
lying  to  under  bare  poles  off  the  Isle  of  Sable,"  said  a  hard- 
looking  old  sailor,  named  Jason,  "  we  shipped  a  sea  which 
swept  the  deck,  and  washed  overboard  the  second  mate  and 
the  whole  larboard  watch,  who  all  went  to  Davy's  locker  ex 
cept  myself,  and  I  was  saved  only  by  being  entangled  in  the 
fore-sheet,  which  nearly  twisted  off  my  starboard  flipper  be 
fore  I  got  on  board.  And  shipmates,  it  was  sad  to  see  them 
poor  fellows  in  the  ship's  wake,  broad  off  on  the  weather- 
quarter,  before  they  went  down,  rising  on  the  top  of  the 
waves,  and  stretching  out  their  arms  toward  us,  as  if  asking 
for  aid  which  could  not  be  given." 

"  Aye,  such  things  are  sad  to  witness,"  said  Jack  Man- 
well.  "  But  I  suppose  they  are  all  right.  A  man  that  goes 
to  sea  must  expect  to  meet  with  squalls  now  and  then.  He 
can't  expect  to  sail  always  in  smooth  water ;  otherwise,  d'ye 
see,  everybody  would  want  to  be  a  sailor,  so  we  should  be 
thankful  for  our  lot  such  as  it  is,  and  not  grumble  at  a  hard 
chance." 

Mark  Rowland  had  crept  in  among  the  sailors,  and  was  an 
eager  listener  to  their  conversation.  He  was  much  impressed 
by  the  remarks  made  by  Sam  Welkin,  and  the  feeling  man 
ner  in  which  they  were  delivered ;  and  he  interrupted  the 


A   SOLITARY   CRUISE.  47 

pause  which  followed  Jack's  philosophical  reflections,  by 
turning  to  Sam  Welkin,  and  plumply  asking  the  question, 
"  Did  you  ever  fall  overboard  at  sea,  Sam?" 

"Once,  and  only  once,"  replied  the  case-hardened  old 
sailor ;  "  but  I  did  not  take  it  so  kindly  as  Jack  Man  well  is 
disposed  to ;  and  while  I  was  in  the  water  with  no  expecta 
tion  of  getting  out,  I  am  afraid  I  grumbled  a  little  at  my 
hard  luck.  And  you  may  rely  on  my  word,  shipmates,  that 
it  is  a  fearful  thing  for  a  man  to  be  floating  on  the  ocean 
buoyed  up  by  a  plank,  a  spar,  or  a  life-buoy,  with  no  vessel 
in  sight,  and  not  one  chance  in  a  thousand  that  he  will  ever 
see  a  human  face  again,  or  grasp  a  shipmate  by  the  hand. 
At  such  a  time  a  man  thinks  fast,  and  in  one  hour  lives  half 
a  century.  He  looks  back  upon  his  past  life,  and  well  for 
him  if  it  is  free  from  twists  and  crooks  and  kinks.  His  suf 
ferings  are  terrible.  I  would  not  wish  my  worst  enemy  to 
be  in  his  mess." 

"How  happened  you  to  fall  overboard,  Sam?"  inquired 
Mark  Rowland.  "  I  do  wish  you  would  tell  us  all  about  it  ?  " 

"Aye,  give  us  the  whole  yarn,  old  fellow,"  said  Jack 
Manweli ;  "  we  are  all  longing  to  have  it  twisted.  What  say 
ye,  shipmates?" 

A  hearty  response  in  the  affirmative  settled  the  question. 
Sam  Welkin  acceded  to  the  wishes  of  his  friends,  and,  in  his 
loftiest  style,  —  for  he  was  something  of  a  scholar,  and  could 
repeat  half  of  "  Falconer's  Shipwreck  "  without  looking  into 
the  book,  and  two  thirds  of  Coleridge's  "  Ancient  Mariner," 
—  favored  them  with  the  following  narrative,  illustrative  of 
the  perilous  incidents  which  chequer  the  life  of  a  sailor. 

"  About  eighteen  years  ago  I  shipped  as  a  sailor  on  board 
the  brig  Silkworm,  Captain  Biffin,  bound  on  a  voyage  from 
New  York  to  Gibraltar  and  a  market.  We  had  been  about 
a  fortnight  on  the  passage  and  were  nearly  half  way  across 


48  MARK  ROWLAND. 

the  Atlantic,  when  one  evening,  just  after  dark,  a  black  cloud 
suddenly  appeared  on  the  weather-quarter,  and  came  rapidly 
towards  us.  The  captain,  who  was  on  deck,  ordered  the  light 
sails  to  be  taken  in,  and  the  flying-jib  having  been  hauled 
down,  I  passed  out  over  the  bowsprit  to  furl  it.  I  reached 
the  flying  jib-boom,  and  had  just  gathered  in  the  sail  in  readi 
ness  to  pass  the  gasket,  when  the  squall  struck  the  brig. 
It  came  with  a  sudden  gust ;  the  sail,  light  as  it  was,  flapped 
heavily,  caught  me  around  the  head,  and  twisted  me  over  the 
boom,  so  that  before  I  could  clutch  the  jib-stay,  guy,  or  any 
other  rope,  I  fell  from  the  jib-boom  into  the  water. 

"  The  ship,  dashing  onward,  passed  directly  over  me,  but 
I  came  to  the  surface  when  I  got  in  the  wake,  and  puffed 
and  blowed  like  a  porpoise  to  recover  my  breath.  '  I  could 
swim  like  a  seal,  and  did  not  at  first  realize  the  danger  of 
my  position.  I  looked  around  for  the  ship,  and  cloudy  as  it 
was,  could  see  her  distinctly,  and  also  hear  the  shouts  on 
board,  c  A  man  overboard !  Welkin  has  fallen  from  the  jib- 
boom  ! '  was  repeated  fore  and  aft. 

"Captain  Biffin  was  a  kind-hearted  man.  He  was  all 
alive  on  this  occasion.  He  instantly  gave  orders  in  a  loud 
and  decided  tone.  '  Hard  down  the  helm  !  hard  down !  Clear 
away  the  stern-boat !  Be  handy,  men,  and  save  the  poor  fel 
low's  life !  Throw  over  the  booby-hatch  !  Throw  over  a 
hen-coop  I  Square  away  the  main-yard. ' 

"  Now,  mounting  the  taffrail,  the  captain  called  out  in  a 
clear  and  encouraging  voice,  and  every  syllable  he  uttered  I 
heard  with  the  utmost  distinctness,  for  at  such  a  time,  ship 
mates,  a  man's  senses  are  all  wide  awake :  *  Keep  up  your 
spirits,  Sam!  Don't  be  discouraged!  The -boat  will  be 
alongside  of  you  in  no  time !  " 

"  The  booby-hatch  and  a  hen-coop  were  tossed  overboard 
the  moment  the  alarm  was  given,  and  while  I  was  but  a 
short  distance  astern  of  the  ship.  1  attempted  to  get  hold 


A    SOLITARY   CRUISE.  "49 

of  one  of  them,  knowing  that  my  only  chance  was,  not  in 
trying  to  swim  towards  the  brig,  but  in  reserving  my  strength 
to  keep  my  head  above  water  until  the  boat  could  be  lowered 
and  manned  and  sent  to  my  relief.  After  swimming  about 
for  a  few  minutes  I  got  hold  of  the  booby-hatch,  to  which  I 
clung  as  closely  as  a  sucker-fish  will  cling  to  the  back  of  a 
shark. 

"  The  brig  going  through  the  water  seven  or  eight  knots 
when  the  squall  struck  her,  was  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
off  before  her  way  could  be  stopped  and  the  boat  lowered ; 
and  even  when  the  brig  was  rounded  to,  she  continued  to 
drift  to  leeward  faster  than  a  man  could  swim  in.  smooth 
water.  Clinging  to  the  booby-hatch,  which,  as  you  know, 
shipmates,  is  something  like  an  open  box,  six  or  eight  feet 
square  and  a  couple  of  feet  deep,  and  made  of  light  pine 
plank,  I  could  keep  my  head  out  of  the  water  most  of  the 
time  without  any  great  effort,  and  thus  had  opportunity  and 
leisure  to  work  a  traverse  in  my  own  mind,  and  find  out  how 
the  chances  stood. 

"  It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  I  knew  I  could  not  be  seen 
from  the  ship,  if  indeed  I  had  been  seen  at  all,  after  having 
fallen  overboard ;  and  at  that  moment  I  earnestly  prayed  to 
God  that  the  boat  might  be  pulled  towards  the  spot  where  I 
was  floating  on  the  water.  I  shuddered  when  I  thought 
that,  in  the  darkness,  the  boat'vS  crew  might  not  know  in 
what  direction  to  steer,  and  after  looking  around  a  while, 
and  not  finding  me,  might  suppose  I  was  drowned,  and  go 
back  to  the  ship,  leaving  me  to  my  fate. 

"  I  saw  the  boat  put  off  from  the  ship.  I  saw  the  dark 
object  as  it  approached.  My  heart  fluttered  with  hope,  but 
soon  sunk  within  me  as  the  men  ceased  rowing,  while  the 
boat  was  still  at  a  distance.  I  could  hear  the  shouts  of 
the  men  calling  out  my  name,  as  they  rose  faintly  above  the 
murmur  of  the  waves  around  me.  I  tried  to  answer  the 


50  MARK  ROWLAND. 

glad  sounds,  and  attract  attention  by  shouts  louder  than 
their  own,  but  my  voice  was  weak  and  hoarse,  either 
through  exhaustion  by  swimming  or  by  swallowing  a  double 
allowance  of  salt  water,  and  I  soon  became  aware,  to  my 
great  dismay,  that  in  spite  of  my  utmost  exertions  I  could 
not  make  myself  heard  by  the  men  in  the  boat. 

"The  boat  came  no  nearer,  but  went  off  on  another 
course,  and  then  came  back  towards  me,  the  men  continuing 
at  intervals  to  call  out  my  name,  and  then  they  pulled 
round  and  round,  and  backwards  and  forwards,  several 
times.  It  was  a  moment  of  maddening  suspense.  I  exert 
ed,  but  in  vain,  all  my  powers  of  voice  and  limb  to  tel 
egraph  to  my  shipmates  that  I  was  still  alive,  and  alive  like 
to  be,  within  hail,  and  almost  within  their  reach,  and  by  a 
slight  effort  on  their  part  could  be  picked  up  and  carried  on 
board  the  brig.  But  although  they  often  appeared  to  listen, 
they  could  not  hear^my  voice,  which  the  more  I  tried  to  raise 
it  —  as  if  hailing  the  deck  from  the  maintop-mast  cross-trees 
in  a  pampero  —  the  more  I  felt  it  sounded  faint,  hoarse,  and 
asthmatic^  as  if  a  grape-shot  was  lodged  in  my  throat. 

"  I  will  do  Mr.  Caswell,  the  second  mate,  and  my  ship 
mates  who  were  with  him  in  the  boat,  the  justice  to  say  that 
they  exerted  themselves  manfully,  and  did  all  that  could 
have  been  expected  from  sailors  of  the  true  blue  stamp,  to 
find  my  course  and  bearings  on  that  memorable  evening,  but 
they  could  not  do  it." 

"  Could  not  do  it?"  exclaimed  Mark  Eowland,  in  a  tone 
of  wonder.  "  Did  not  the  boat's  crew  find  you  before  you 
were  entirely  exhausted,  and  take  you  on  board  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Sam,  resuming  his  narrative,  "  a  light  was 
now  displayed  from  the  ship,  and  a  musket  was  fired  as  a 
signal  for  the  boat  to  return ;  and  lads,  you  may  imagine 
the  horror  which  froze  my  blood,  when  the  conviction  was 
forced  upon  me  ihat  the  boat  had  abandoned  the  search  and 


A    SOLITARY   CRUISE.  51 

x  • 

was  returning  to  the  ship.  With  straining  eyeballs  I  still 
gazed  in  the  direction  of  the  vessel  on  whose  decks  I  lately 
trod,  and  threw  my  hands  towards  her  in  agony,  madly  en 
treating,  in  hoarse  whispers,  for  that  help  which  I  knew  now 
I  should  not  receive.  Through  the  shadows  of  night  I  could 
see  the  dark  mass  in  the  distance  gradually  growing  more 
and  more  indistinct,  until  it  was  entirely  lost  to  my  view. 

"  And  now  I  was  in  the  midst  of  the  wide  ocean,  floating 
on  the  waves,  alone !  A  dreadful  solitude,  with  certain 
death  staring  me  in  the  face.  My  brain  seemed  to  whirl 
/ound,  my  head  was  giddy,  and  I  was  sick  at  heart,  when  I 
realized  my  condition.  After  a  time  I  recovered  my  reason 
to  a  certain  extent,  and  actually  began  to  speculate  on  my 
fate !  I  tried  to  calculate  how  long  I  should  hold  out, 
hanging  on  to  that  float  in  the  water;  whether  the  wind 
would  rise,  and  the  waves  angrily  dash  over  me  and  soon 
end  my  sufferings,  or  whether,  overcome  by  fatigue  and 
sleep,  I  should  release  my  grip,  and  sink  quietly  beneath 
the  waves.  Perhaps  it  would  be  my  lot  to  die  a  slow  death 
by  starvation. 

"  While  indulging  in  these  speculations  I  felt  a  strange 
curiosity  and  earnest  desire  to  know  what  would  become  of 
me,  —  not  merely  the  manner  of  my  death,  but  my  destina 
tion  after  death.  Should  I  be  punished  dreadfully  and  eter 
nally  for  the  many  sins  I  had  committed  on  earth,  or  would 
the  Lord,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  taking  into  view  the  few 
chances  I  had  of  improving  my  mind  and  morals,  and  the 
many  temptations  that  had  beset  me  on  every  side,  forgive 
my  sins  and  take  me  to  his  bosom?  At  that  hour,  ship 
mates,  which  I  considered  my  dying  hour,  I  heartily  repent 
ed  of  all  my  sins. 

"  Then  again  a  gleam  of  hope  would  flit  across  my  mind. 
My  situation  was  not  so  bad  but  that  it  might  have  been 
worse.  I  had  something  to  cling  to,  which,  should  the 


52  MARK   ROWLAND. 

weather  continue  moderate,  would  aid  me  to  float  a  long 
time  on  the  water,  and  my  heart  throbbed  with  pleasure, 
when  the  idea  flashed  across  my  mind  that  if  I  could  hold 
on  until  the  next  morning,  it  was  possible  some  vessel 
might  cross  that  spot  and  extend  a  helping  hand. 

"  But  when  I  reflected  that  but  few  vessels  took  that  track 
across  the  ocean,  and  that  even  if  one  passed  within  a  quar 
ter  of  a  mile,  the  chances  were  a  thousand  to  one  against  my 
being  seen,  my  float  being  even  with  the  water,  and  no  sig 
nal  being  displayed.  I  again  abandoned  all  hope,  and  could 
hardly  help  regretting  that  my  life  was  prolonged.  I  felt  a 
strong  impulse,  which  I  could  hardly  resist,  to  quit  my  booby- 
hatch,  and  put  an  end  to  this  terrible  state  of  suspense  and 
uncertainty.  - 

"  Then  fortitude  would  come  to  my  aid,  and  I  resolved, 
desperate  as  my  condition  was,  to  struggle  for  life  as  long 
as  I  could  move  a  muscle,  and  stave  off  to  the  most  distant 
period  possible  the  hour  of  death.  For  oh,  shipmates,  life 
is  sweet.  Though  sometimes  we  meet  with  rough  weather, 
head  winds,  squalls,  typhoons,  and  hurricanes  on  the  voyage, 
we  more  frequently  meet  with  prosperous  breezes  and  un 
ruffled  seas.  There  are  joys  and  comforts  as  well  as  troub 
les  in  this  world,  and  as  to  the  future  —  who  knows  what 
will  be  its  character?  Not  a  poor  ignorant  sailor  like 
myself! 

"  And  then  I  thought  of  my  home,  of  my  childhood,  when 
I  rambled  through  the  woods  and  pastures,  happy  in  the 
present  and  looking  forward  to  joy  in  the  future.  I  thought 
of  my  parents,  of  my  kind  and  loving  mother,  my  brothers 
and  sisters,  none  of  whom  I  had  seen  for  years,  but  who 
never  seemed  so  near  and  dear  as  at  that  moment  when  I 
was  about  to  land  on  the  dark  shores  of  another  world. 

"  But  it  is  impossible  to  tell  all  which  passed  through  my 
mind  on  that  terrible  night  —  a  night  so  long  that  I  feared 


A    SOLITARY   CRUISE.  53 

it  would  n.ever  end.  My  nerves  were  sadly  out  of  tune,  my 
heart  beat  violently,  and  my  brain  throbbed  with  excitement. 
If  I  should  live  for  ages,  I  shall  never  forget  it.  How  rap 
idly  I  thought !  How  clear  and  distinct  were  my  recollec 
tions  !  My  whole  Ufa  with  its  many  incidents,  and  every 
person  with  whom  I  had  ever  associated,  or  in  whose  welfare 
I  had  felt  any  interest,  passed  in  review  before  me  ! 

"  Hours  passed  away.  The  wind  continued  light,  and  the 
sea  comparatively  smooth.  The  stars  shone  with  unusual 
brilliancy.  The  waves  no  longer  broke  over  me  as  if  impa 
tient  to  engulf  me  ;  and  as  I  partly  rested  my  body  on  the 
buoyant  hatchway,  which  rose  and  fell  with  the  ocean  swell, 
and  upon  the  sides  of. which  I  retained  a  firm  grasp  with  my 
fingers,  I  actually  fell  into  a  doze,  and,  unlikely  as  it  may 
seem,  was  for  a  while  unconscious  of  the  horrors  of  my 
situation. 

When  I  awoke  the  streaks  of  early  dawn  were  visible  in 
the  east,  and  I  eagerly  watched  the  approach  of  day  to  cast 
an  eye  around  the  horizon.  Having  been  so  wonderfully 
preserved  for  many  hours,  I  was  led  to  indulge  a  faint,  but 
hardly  acknowledged  hope  that  1  should  be  rescued  from  the 
waves  by  some  passing  vessel. 

"  As  daylight  advanced,  I  could  see  to  a  considerable  dis 
tance  in  every  direction.  No  object  met  my  view  but  the 
sky  above  and  the  dark  waters  around  and  beneath  me.  The 
last  spark  of  hope  was  extinguished,  and  I  made  up  my 
mind  to  meet  my  fate  like  a  man. 

"  But  just  as  the  sun  rose  above  the  horizon,  an  object  in 
the  west  caught  my  eye,  which  reflected  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
and  shone  like  a  white  speck  afar  oiT.  I  at  once  knew  it  was 
a  ship,  and  my  heart  swelled  again  with  expectation  and 
hope.  I  kept  my  eyes  steadily  fixed  .on  that  object,  anxious 
to  know  the  course  it  was  steering,  and  by  its  rapidly  in 
creasing  size,  I  soon  knew  it  was  approaching ! 


54  MATiK   HOWL  AND. 

"  My  eyes  were  riveted  on  that  vessel.  It  was  not  long 
before  I  could  count  her  sails,  and  see  between  her  masts. 
The  ship  was  on  a  wind  steering  to  the  north-east,  and  if  she 
kept  on  that  course  would  pass  me  at  least  a  couple  of  miles 
to  the  northward.  I  watched  her  course  with  intense  inter 
est.  Every  manoeuvre,  every  change,  every  motion,  was 
closely  noted,  and  1  fervently  prayed  that  some  circumstance 
might  occur  to  bring  her  within  hail.  An  hour  passed,  and 
she  kept  on  in  the  same  direction.  My  hopes  again  van 
ished.  But  suddenly  the  wind  hauled  to  the  northward  and 
headed  the  ship  off  a  couple  of  points,  and  to  my  great  joy 
she  was  put  about  on  the  other  tack,  and  headed  almost 
directly  towards  me  !^ 

"As  the  ship  approached,  the  wind  became  unsteady. 
Sometimes  I  was  on  her  weather-bow,  sometimes  on  her  lee- 
bow,  and  sometimes  directly  ahead.  No  one  can  imagine 
the  agony  of  my  suspense  as  I  watched  that  vessel.  As  she 
drew  near,  and  steering  almost  a  straight  course  for  my 
booby-hatch,  a  flaw  of  wind  struck  her  and  headed  her  off  a 
couple  of  points,  enough  to  carry  her  in  a  few  minutes  past 
me,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  my  voice.  Knowing  this  was 
my  only  chance,  that  '  now  or  never '  was  the  word,  I  left 
the  kind  float  which  had  so  long  borne  me  above  the  waves, 
and  struck  off  in  a  course  which  would  carry  me  ahead  of 
the  ship.  Fortunately  for  me  the  wind  was  now  light,  and 
the  ship  was  no  clipper,  and  I  soon  reached  my  station 
directly  in  her  hawse,  which  I  felt  would  enable  me  to  speak 
her,  if  she  kept  on  her  course. 

"  By  this  time  I  had  recovered  the  full  tone  of  my  voice, 
and  as  soon  as  I  thought  I  could  be  heard  by  the  men  on  her 
decks,  I  began  to  hail,  '  Ship  ahoy !  ship  ahoy !  throw  me 
a  rope ! ' 

xc  I  hailed  several  times,  and  was  nearly  alongside  to  lee 
ward  before  I  could  make  them  understand  that  a  poor  lost 


A    SOLITARY   CRUISE.  55 

sailor  was  in  the  sea,  and  bellowing  for  help.  I  was  dis 
gusted  with  their  stupidity.  At  length  the  man  at  the  helm 
heard  me,  and  after  looking  around  for  a  few  seconds,  he 
said  in  a  sleepy  tone,  '  Captain  Dace,  Captain  Dace,  I — I 
— believe,  somebody,  or — something — is  hailing  the  ship 
there  to  leeward  ! ' 

"The  captain,  mate,  and  all  hands  rushed  to  the  side  of 
the  ship  at  this  startling  announcement,  so  lazily  given,  and 
were  greatly  astonished  and  frightened  at  seeing  my  ugly- 
looking  figure-head  sticking  up  out  of  the  water,  and  hearing 
me,  in  passable  English,  call  out  to  them  not  to  stand  there 
idly  staring  at  a  sailor  adrift,  but  to  bear  a  hand  and  send  a 
boat,  for  I  had  had  swimming  enough  to  last  me  my  life 
time,  and  wanted  to  be  taken  oh  board ! 

"This  brought  them  to  their  senses,  and  it  no  sooner 
flashed  upon  their  minds  that  I  was  no  marine  monster,  but 
a  poor  fellow-creature  in  distress,  than  the  captain,  in  his 
excitement,  took  off  his  hat,  waved  it  around  his  head,  and 
threw  it  overboard,  at  the  same  time  giving  orders  to  '  square 
the  main-yard ! '  The  men  gave  three  cheers,  the  most  wel 
come  sounds  I  ever  heard  in  my  life,  and  sprung  to  their 
work.  The  ship's  way  was  stopped,  the  quarter-boat  was 
lowered,  and  in  less  than  five  minutes  I  was  on  board  the 
ship  Coquille,  Captain  Richard  Dace,  bound  from  Providence 
to  Gibraltar  and  a  market. 

"  And  shipmates,  I  was  treated  in  the  kindest  manner  on 
board  this  ship,  supplied  with  clothes,  and  made  comfortable 
in  every  way.  But  the  Coquille  being  a  dull  sailer,  we  were 
a  long  time  in  reaching  Gibraltar,  and  on  the  afternoon  on 
which  we  entered  the  bay  we  espied  a  brig  coming  out  of 
the  harbor  and  steering  for  the  Mediterranean.  This  brig 
was  the  Silkworm,  the  same  old  craft  from  whose  flying  jib- 
boom  I  tumbled  into  the  sea  some  five  weeks  before.  I 
recognized  her  at  once,  and  told  Captain  Dace,  who  hoisted 


56  MARK  ROWLAND. 

a  signal,  ran  down  towards  her,  and  hailing  her,  asked  the 
captain  to  heave  to  for  a  few  minutes,  as  he  wanted  to  send 
a  boat  on  board.  ,  • 

"  Captain'  Biffin  complied  with  the  request,  wondering 
what  the  stranger  wanted.  The  boat  was  manned.  I  shook 
hands  with  Captain  Dace,  his  officers,  and  the  whole  ship's 
company,  and  wished  them  endless  prosperity,  for  if  I  had 
been  a  brother  they  could  not  have  treated  me  more  kindly. 
I  took  my  seat  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
was  alongside  the  brig.  I  bade  my  kind  friends  in  the 
boat  good-by,  stepped  into  the  main-chainwales,  and  sprang 
lightly  over  the  gunwale  to  the  main-deck  and  into  the 
midst  of  the  group  of  officers  and  men  who  were  gathered 
there,  curious  to  know  what  was  the  trouble.  I  stared  Cap 
tain  Biffin  full  in  the  face,  took  off  my  hat,  and,  scratching 
my  head,  said,  in  the  most  respectful  manner,  "  I  have  come 
aboard,  sir,  at  last ! ' 

"  I  never  saw  a  man  so  astonished  as  Captain  Biffin  was 
when  he  caught  my  eye  as  I  was  coming  over  the  gunwale. 
He  turned  as  pale  as  an  iceberg,  and  stepped  back  a  pace  or 
two,  as  if  he  had  seen  a  ghost.  But  when  I  took  off  my  hat 
and  he  heard  my  voice,  he  exclaimed,  '  It  is  Sam  Welkin, 
as  sure  as  there's  snakes  in  Virginny.  Boys/  he  continued, 
turned  to  the  wondering  crew,  '  here's  your  old  shipmate, 
Sam  Welkin,  come  aboard  again  safe  and  sound.  He  has 
managed  by  some  means  to  get  to  windward  of  Davy  Jones, 
after  all ! ' 

"  The  men  gave  three  rousing  hurrahs,  which  fairly  shook 
the  old  brig,  and  one  after  another  grasped  my  hand  as  if 
determined  to  twist  my  arm  off.  The  captain  now  gave  the 
order  to  '  fill  away  the  maintop-sail,'  in  which  work,  not 
withstanding  my  exposure  and  fatigue  and  weakness,  after 
having  been  soaked  so  long  in  salt  water,  I  willingly  lent  a 


A   SOLITARY   CRUISE.  57 

I 

hand,  and  in  half  an  hour,  having  rounded  c  the  Rock,'  -we 
were  sailing  merrily  up  the  Mediterranean ! " 

So  ended  the  yarn  which  Sam  Welkin  reeled  off  to  his 
admiring  shipmates.  But  all  good-natured  comments  or 
sharp  criticisms,  which  might  have  been  expected  from  his 
auditors,  were  prevented ;  for  he  had  hardly  got  through 
when  the  man  at  the  helm  called  out  "Eight  bells!"  and 
the  officer  of  the  deck  gave  the  glad  order,  "  Call  the 
watch!" 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  THIEF  IN  THE   FORECASTLE. 

As  the  Saladin  reached  the  tropical  latitudes,  and  was 
quietly  urged  onwards  by  the  light  trade-winds,  Mark  Row 
land  was  astonished  at  the  vast  numbers  of  flying-fish  which 
frequented  that  part  of  the  ocean.  They  reminded  him  of 
the  story  he  had  heard  of  a  boy  who,  having  returned  from 
a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies,  was  amusing  his  grandmother 
with  false  or  exaggerated  accounts  of  wonders  he  had  seen. 
But  when  he  began  to  tell  about  flying-fish,  the  good  old 
lady  cut  short  his  stories  at  once  by  saying,  "  That's  enough, 
Tom.  Your  talk'  about  •  rivers  of  rum  and  mountains  of 
sugar  I  believed,  because  such  things  are  possible ;  but  as 
for  flying-fish,  I  don't  believe  a  syllable  about  them ! " 

Sometimes  these  fish,  with  wings  which  they  never  flap, 
would  rise  several  feet  out  of  the  water  in  flocks  of  fifty  or 
a  hundred,  and  after  Skimming  along  over  the  waves  a  dis 
tance  of  fifteen  or  twenty  fathoms,  drop  into  their  native 
element,  and  were  seen  no  more.  And  often  in  the  night, 
when  there  was  a  breeze,  a  flock  of  flying-fish  on  the  wing, 
not  aware  that  there  was  a  large,  unwieldly  monster  in  the 
shape  of  a  ship  in  their  immediate  neighborhood,  would 
strike  against  the  weather-side  of  the  Saladin,  and  perhaps 
a  half  dozen,  and  sometimes  a  dozen,  of  these  curious  and 
interesting  inhabitants  of  the  deep  would  be  wafted  over  the 

58 


A   THIEF   IN   THE   FORECASTLE.  59 

gunwale,  and  fall  on  the  deck,  furnishing  a  breakfast  next 
morning  for  the  inmates  of  the  cabin,  for  which  an  epicure 
would  pawn  his  most  costly  jewel. 

Where  there  are  many  flying-fish  dolphins  are  also  often 
met  with,  and  the  winged  fishes  constitute  an  important  ar 
ticle  of  food  for  the  larger  inhabitants  of  the  deep.  Mark 
Rowland  was  deeply  interested  in  watching  the  motions  and 
habits  of  these  animals,  the  pursuer  and  the  pursued,  the 
ruthless  destroyer  and  his  victim.  His  sympathies,  being  al 
ways  warmly  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  persecuted  flying-fish, 
he  would  sometimes  go  out  on  the  bowsprit,  and  seating  him 
self  in  the  forestay-sail  netting,  keep  his  eye  on  the  dolphin, 
while  the  scaly  tyrant  was  prowling  around  in  search  of  his 
prey. 

This  beautiful  but  ferocious  fish  would  gently  and  quietly 
draw  near  the  bows  of  the  ship,  but  generally  keeping  far 
enough  off  to  be  out  of  danger  from  the  grainse  or  any  other 
offensive  weapon,  then  apparently  motionless,  without  mov 
ing  a  fin,  he  would  swim  along,  keeping  exactly  in  the  same 
relative  position,  all  the  time  looking  ahead,  intent  on  mis 
chief.  All  at  once  he  would  dart  forward  swifter  than  any 
race-horse  starting  from  his  post ;  anc^  at  the  same  moment 
a  flock  of  flying-fish,  terrified  and  fearing  for  their  lives, 
would  rise  and  shoot  along  over  the  surface  of  the  water 
with  great  velocity,  until  their  strength  was  exhausted.  But 
when  these  persecuted  creatures  dropped  into  the  water 
their  mortal  enemy,  who  had  kept  pace  with  them  in  their 
flight,  was  there,  directly  beneath  them,  ready  and  eager  to 
snap  them  up,  one  after  another,  until  his  appetite  was  sat 
isfied.  Indeed,  seldom  is  a  dolphin  taken  in  those  latitudes 
without  finding  within,  him  several  flying-fish  which  were  just 
entombed.  These  are  carefully  preserved  in  pickle,  to  be 
used  for  bait,  and  in  their  turn  become  the  means  of  destroy 
ing  the  enemies  of  their  race ! 


60  MARK  ROWLAND. 

One  afternoon  Mark  Rowland  went  aloft,  as  he  was  apt  to 
do,  to  take  a  look  round  the  horizon  and  across  the  water, 
to  learn  what  was  going  on  in  old  Neptune's  dominions. 
Not  a  vessel  or  a  wreck  was  in  sight,  nor  did  he  see  any  un 
fortunate  sailor  clinging  to  a  booby-hatch.  But  on  looking 
on  the  water  nearer  the  ship,  he  saw  two  dolphins  of  large 
size,  a  few  fathoms  from  the  ship  on  the  lee- bow,  swimming 
along  very  lovingly  together. 

"  Hallo  !  "  quoth  Mark  to  himself.  "  A  pair  of  dolphins ! 
Husband  and  wife,  perhaps.  Who  knows?  I  wonder  if 
fishes  have  kind  feelings  towards  each  other,  and  cultivate 
tender  affections !  " 

He  hurried  down  on  deck,  resolved  to  try  his  hand  and 
his  luck  in  capturing  one  or  both  of  these  unsuspecting 
strangers. 

A  fishing-line  which  had  been  unsuccessfully  used  the  day 
before  was  lying  coiled  up  on  the  deck,  with  a  stout  hook, 
and  a  flying-fish  for  bait  attached.  He  said  not  a  word  to 
indicate  that  large  fish  were  around,  but  kept  his  own  coun 
sel,  with  a  view  to  have  all  the  sport  to  himself.  He  seized 
upon  the  fishing-line,  and  before  a  man  could  say,  "  avast, 
there ! "  was  at  the  jib-boom  end,  lowering  his  line  into  the 
water,  and  bobbing  it  up  and  down,  his  face  glowing  with 
excitement,  and  his  eye  sparkling  with  the  pleasurable  hope 
of  luring  one  of  those  noble  fish  to  dart  at  the  hook,  and 
finish  his  destructive  career. 

Nor  was  Mark  mistaken  in  his  calculation.  The  dolphins, 
evidently,  unfamiliar  with  the  various  devices  resorted  to  by 
man  for  their  destruction,  and  seeing  nothing  particularly 
alarming  in  the  appearance  of  the  ship,  a  huge  wooden 
monster,  moving  along  steadily  through  the  water,  boldly 
made  a  rush  at  the  hook  the  moment  they  saw  it  from  a  dis 
tance.  One  of  them,  the  largest  and  probably  the  male, 
being  a  little  in  advance,  seized  it  with  avidity,  and  the  next 


A   THIEF   IN   THE   FORECASTLE.  61 

moment  experienced  a  new  and  unpleasant  sensation,  the 
hook  being  strongly  fastened  in  his  lower  jaw.  He  made 
frantic  efforts  to  break  loose  from  the  cord,  which,  like  a  bond 
of  fate,  connected  him  with  the  cabin-boy  on  the  bowsprit. 
He  pulled  and  tugged,  exerting  all  his  strength  he  jerked 
and  floundered,  and  leaped  out  of  the  water ;  but  all  would 
not  do.  He  was  firmly  hooked,  and  struggled  against  his 
fate  in  vain. 

Mark  rejoiced  in  his  success,  and  essayed  to  haul  up  his 
huge  captive,  take  him  in  on  deck  and  exhibit  him  to  his  ship 
mates  as  a  proof  of  his  adroitness  and  skill.  But  the  dol 
phin,  weighing  nearly  a  hundred  pounds,  was  too  large  for 
him  to  handle,  and  he  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  call  for 
help.  He  created  quite  a  sensation  by  crying  out,  "  Hallo, 
there  on  deck !  I  have  hooked  a  dolphin !  a  big  fellow !  and 
cannot  haul  him  up.  Bring  out  the  grainse,  and  be  quick 
about  it,  or  we  shall  lose  him." 

Mr.  Jarls,  hearing  the  outcry,  went  forward,  and  compre 
hended  the  case  at  once.  He  armed  himself  with  the 
grainse,  a  death-dealing  instrument,  with  five  barbed  prongs, 
and  passed  out  on  the  bowsprit  to  the  relief  of  Mark  Row 
land. 

In  the  mean  time  Mark  was  witness  to  a  scene  which  set 
tled  in  his  own  mind  the  question  with  regard  to  the  affections 
and  kind  feelings  of  those  bloodless  and  heartless  animals, 
supposed  by  many  to  be  the  very  essence  of  stupidity  and 
selfishness,  known  as  fishes. 

The  companion  of  the  dolphin  which  was  hooked, 
undoubtedly  a  female,  as  soon  as  she  became  aware  of 
the  real  state  of  the  case,  and  was  convinced  that  her  com 
panion  had  got  himself  into  trouble,  and  that  his  liberty  and 
life  were  in  imminent  danger,  made  the  strongest  possible 
manifestations  of  grief  and  alarm.  Regardless  of  danger 
to  herself,  she  swam  quickly  around  and  around  the  captive, 


62  MARK  ROWLAND. 

as  if  to  ascertain  the  precise  nature  of  his  trouble,  while  he 
was  struggling  hard  to  break  the  line.  Then  she  would 
swim  off  to  a  distance  of  several  .fathoms,  and  return  with 
wonderful  velpcity,  throwing  herself  against  the  line,  as  if 
in  the  hope  that  what  one  could  not  accomplish  might  be 
effected  by  their  united  efforts.  Then  she  would  snap  at 
the  line  with  her  teeth,  but  without  doing  it  much  injury, 
and  in  various  ways  exhibited  her  affection  for  her  com 
panion,  pity  for  his  sufferings,  and  indignation  against  his 
tormenters. 

But  this  scene,  which  was  watched  by  Mark  with  intense 
interest,  was  soon  brought  to  a  close  by  the  promptness  of 
Mr.  Jarls.  Having  no  faith  in  the  sentimentality  of  fishes, 
he  smiled  grimly  when  Mark,  in  the  simplicity  of  his  heart, 
begged  him  to  "  spare  them  both,  they  were  so  fond  of  each 
other ! "  He  poised  the  fatal  weapon,  and  selecting  not  the 
one  already  hooked,  but  his  restless  companion,  planted  the 
prongs  of  the  grainse  deeply  in  her  back.  The  fish  was 
soon  transferred  to  the  deck,  and  as  soon  as  the  grainse  was 
disengaged  from  the  quivering  muscles,  it  was  handed  back, 
when  he  hurled  it  with  the  same  success  at  the  larger  fish, 
which  was  still  struggling  convulsively  to  regain  his  free 
dom. 

Mark's  heart  was  sensibly  touched  by  the  scene  he  had 
witnessed.  He  pitied  the  unfortunate  dolphins,  and  almost 
regretted  that  he  had  been  instrumental  in  their  capture. 
But  when  he  recalled  to  mind  their  well-known  voracity  and 
their  unsparing  cruelty  towards  the  flying-fish,  which  fish 
again  feasted  on  fishes  and  aquatic  animals,  smaller  than 
themselves,  he  became  reconciled  to  the  result,  and  partook 
with  a  good  appetite  of  the  "  chowder  for  all  hands,"  of 
which  the  dolphins  formed  the  chief  ingredient. 

Mark  had  frequent  opportunities  afterwards  to  witness  the 
wonderful  peculiarities  and  sagacity  of  fishes,  especially  in 


A  THIEF   IN  THE   FORECASTLE.  63 

the  amicable  relations  which  ever  exist  between  the  pilot- 
fish  and  the  shark,  —  so  unlike  each  other  in  size,  habits, 
and  appearance.  This  strange  tie  of  friendship  between  the 
ravenous  monster  and  the  beautiful  mottled  little  fish  is  not 
a  mere  fable,  as  many  believe,  but  a  reality,  and  is  described 
more  fully  in  the  author's  work,  entitled  "  Jack  in  the  Fore 
castle." 

Sailors,  as  a  general  thing,  are  honest  men.  Although 
not  backward  sometimes  in  relating  improbable  incidents, 
and  giving  them  the  guise  of  truth,  they  hold  a  liar  in  abhor 
rence,  and  despise  a  thief.  Indeed,  it  is  seldom  that  a  thief 
is  found  on  a  ship's  forecastle,  an.d  when  found,  the  life  he 
leads  is  not  a  pleasant  one. 

On  board  the  Saladin  was  a  man  named  Peter,  or  Pedro, 
who  was  no  favorite  with  the  officers  or  the  rest  of  the  crew. 
He  was  a  foreigner,  of  a  dark,  sallow  complexion,  and  be 
lieved  to  be  a  Portuguese.  He  was  ignorant  and  supersti 
tious,  with  principles  and  morals  at  low-water  mark.  He 
was  not  much  of  a  sailor,  although  he  shipped  for  full 
wages ;  and  being  constitutionally  lazy,  would  shirk  labor 
whenever,  an  opportunity  offered.  But  being  in  Mr.  Jarl's 
watch,  that  vigilant  officer,  who  was  a  great  stickler  for  jus 
tice  in  the  abstract,  managed  to  screw  out  of  Peter  a  much 
greater  amount  of  work,  and  that  of  no  very  desirable  char 
acter,  than  the  worthless  fellow  would  willingly  have  per 
formed. 

One  forenoon,  while  Jack  Manwell  was  at  the  helm,  and 
Mr.  Jarls  was  walking  the  quarter-deck,  Jack,  with  a  very 
sober  countenance,  told  the  mate  that,  when  he  left  Boston, 
he  had,  in  a  secret  drawer  in  his  chest,  twenty-five  Spanish 
dollars,  a  part  of  the  wages  received  for  his  last  voyage, 
with  which  he  meant  to  buy  in  Calcutta  some  kickshaws  or 
things,  strange  or  beautiful,  as  presents  to  his  friends  in 
Marblehead.  "  They  were  there,  safe  and  sound,  when  I 


64  MARK  ROWLAND. 

overhauled  my  chest  last  Sunday,"  said  Jack,  with  a  sigh, 
"  but  now  they  are  gone." 

"  Ah  ha !  "  said  the  mate.  "  A  thief  on  board !  This  is 
a  serious  matter.  We  must  catch  the  rascal,  and  expose 
him.  Do  you  suspect  any  one,  Jack  ?  " 

"  I  don't  believe  there's  a  man  on  board  would  do  such  a 
dirty  trick,  unless  it  be  that  lazy,  piratical-looking  chap, 
with  the  snakish  eyes,  —  that  Peter." 

"And  what  makes  you  suspect  Peter,  Jack?"  said  Mr. 
Jarls,  with  a  sort  of  half-laugh. 

"  I  have  no  proof,  whatever,"  said  Jack ;  "  but  he  has  had 
chances  enough  to  do  it  if  he  wanted  to.  Besides,  I  know 
he's  a  liar,  and  a  man  who  will  lie  will  always  steal." 

"  Admirable  logic ! "  exclaimed  the  mate  ;  "  worthy  of 
Harry  Stotle  himself.  Say  no  more  ;  keep  quiet.  If  that 
scamp  of  a  Peter  has  stolen  it,  we'll  get  it  again,  never 
fear." 

Mr.  Jarls,  after  a  short  consultation  with  Captain  Somers, 
went  forward,  and  summoning  the  sailors  around  him,  said, 
"My  men,  Jack  Manwell'has  had  twenty-five  dollars  stolen 
from  his  chest  within  a  few  days.  Now  it  is  important  to 
find  out  who  is  the  thief,  as  well  as  to 'recover  the  money. 
No  innocent  man,  of  course,  will  object  to  having  his  chest 
searched  at  once.  So  I  wish  you  all  to  hand  me  the  keys, 
and  the  sooner  this  matter  is  settled,  the  better." 

Every  man  whose  chest  was  locked  produced  the  key  at 
once.  Peter's  was  not  locked.  "  He,  was  not  afraid,"  he 
said,  "  to  trust  to  the  honesty  of  his  shipmates." 

"  That's  more  than  your  shipmates  can  say  of  you,"  said 
the  mate. 

Peter  scowled,  and  looked  marline-spikes. 

Mr.  Jarls  searched  every  chest,  and  examined  every  berth, 
but  no  money  could  be  found. 


A   THIEF   IN  THE   FORECASTLE.  65 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  I'll  go  another  way  to  work,  —  a  way 
that  I  never  knew  fail.  Come  aft,  all  of  you  !  " 

The  men  followed  the  first  officer  aft  to  the  capstan,  which 
he  made  them  surround.  He  then  told  every  man  to  place 
the  forefinger  of  his  right  hand  on  the  edge  of  the  capstan, 
which  was  done  without  hesitation,  Peter  alone  showing 
symptoms  of  agitation,  and  looking  as  if  he  wished  he  was 
anywhere  else. 

"  Now/'  said  Mr.  Jarls,  in  a  tone  befitting  the  serious 
occasion,  "  I  will  raise  this  hammer  aloft,  and  say,  'mene, 
mene,  telcel,  upharsin,'  and  then  bring  it  down  with  all  my 
force  upon  the  capstan,  and  it  will  be  sure  to  fall  upon  the 
finger  of  the  thief  who  stole  the  money,  and  smash  it  to 
atoms.  So  look  out,  men !  "  added  he,  raising  the  hammer ; 
"  mene,  mene " 

"  Avast,  there,  Mr.  Jarls !  "  screamed  the  terrified  Peter, 
snatching  his  finger  from  the  capstan.  "  I  will  confess  all 
without  having  my  finger  smashed.  The  devil  tempted  me, 
and  I  stole  the  money." 

"You  did,  did  you?"  exclaimed  the  mate,  seizing  him  by 
the  throat.  "  I  thought  so,  you  outlandish  scoundrel.  What 
did  you  do  with  the  money?  Bring  it  here,  and  lay  it  on  the 
.capstan,  or  overboard  you  go,  in  strict  accordance  with  the 
laws  of  Neptune." 

The  miserable  being,  convicted  on  his  own  confession  of  a 
felonious  crime,  trembled  like  an  aspen  leaf ;  and  as  soon  as 
Mr.  Jarls  released  him  from,his  'grasp,  Peter  stripped  him 
self  of  his  outer  garments,  and  after  fumbling  about  his 
loins,  produced  a  canvas,  belt  which,  on  being  ripped  open, 
was  found  to  contain  twenty-five  dollars,  and  several  other 
small  articles  of  value,  which  had  mysteriously  disappeared 
from  the  chests  in  the  forecastle. 

The  inquisition  was  at  an  end.  The  thief  had  been  found, 
and  the  money  recovered.  The  men  went  forward  in  a  body, 
«* 


66  MARX  ROWLAND. 

Peter  hanging  behind,  looking  exceedingly  anxious ;  for  he 
saw  the  indignant  glances  of  his  shipmates,  and  was  by  no 
means  sure  that  he  should  entirely  escape  the  painful  pun 
ishment  which  he  knew  he  deserved. 

And  Peter  had  reason  for  his  doubts,  for  no  sooner  had 
the  men  reached  the  forecastle  than  Sam  Welkin  said, 
"  What  shall  we  do  with  this  fellow,  this  thief?  It  will 
never  do  to  let  him  off  so  !  " 

"By  no  means,"  said  Nicholas  Haxon.  "  If  I  had  my* 
way,  I  would  keel-haul  him.  It  would  be  a  good  lesson. 
He  would  never  steal  afterwards." 

"  I  believe  you,"  said  Ned  Thrumbo.  "  But  keel-hauling 
is  a  barbarous  punishment.  It  would  be  better  to  give  him 
a  sea-toss  at  once.  But  there  is  a  way  by  which  we  can 
show  him  and  each  other  the  detestation  in  which  we  hold 
the  pitiful,  sneaking,  unsailor-like  crime  which  he  has  been 
guilty  of.,  We  must  cobb  him  !  " 

"That's  it!"  shouted  the  men,  in  chorus.  "Ned,  you 
speak  like  an  inspired  grumpus  or  a  second  Jonah.  We  will 
cobb  him." 

And  in  spite  of  Peter's  cries  and  entreaties  he  was  seized 
forthwith,  and  tied  firmly  to  the  windlass-bitts,  and  com 
pelled  to  undergo  a  species  of  corporal  punishment  which  is 
exceedingly  painful  while  being  administered,  but  which 
leaves  no  disfiguring  marks,  and  inflicts  no  permanent  in 
jury.  In  laying  on  the  blows  with  the  broad  side  of  a 
heavy  hand-saw,  every  man  and  the  cook,  also,  participated 
in  turn,  so  that,  in  case  of  a  legal  prosecution,  no  one  could 
testify  to  facts  without  criminating  himself.  The  poor 
wretch  howled  and  screamed  and  writhed  in  agony.  '  But 
this  had  no  effect  in  softening  the  hearts  of  his  indignant 
shipmates.  He  called  for  aid  upon  the  captain  and  officers, 
but  they  wisely  left  the  deck  when  they  saw  preparations  for 
a  righteous  punishment  going  on,  and,  in  the  cabin,  turning 


A   THIEF   IN   THE   FORECASTLE.  67 

a  deaf  ear  to  his  cries,  let  the  men  uninterruptedly  go 
through  with  their  good  work. 

As  the  ship  Saladin  drew  towards  the  equinoctial  line, 
light  winds  and  calms  prevailed.  A  long  passage  was 
threatened  ;  and  Captain  Somers  was  anxious  lest  his  fresk 
water  should  not  hold  out,  as  the  men,  in  that  extremely  hot 
climate,  not  being  put  on  allowance,  drank  an  incredible 
quantity  of  water,  and  unless  the  casks  could  be  filled  by 
rains  from  the  clouds,  or  some  ^means  devised  to  check  the 
indulgence  of  the  thirsty  propensities  of  the  crew,  it  would 
ere  long  be  necessary  to  put  them  on  very  short  allowance. 
In  this  emergency  an  expedient  was  adopted,  which  was 
attended  with  good  results. 

A  can  which  held  a  large  half  pint,  was  placed  in  the  fore- 
top-mast  cross-trees,  and  when  a  man  wanted  to  drink  he 
was  obliged  to  climb  aloft,  take  possession  of  the  tumbler, 
come  down  on  deck,  fill  it  to  the  brim  once,  if  he  chose,  drink 
it  off,  and  then  carry  the  can  back  to  the  lofty  height  from 
which  it  was  taken.  Mr.  Jarls,  who  was  quite  a  mathema 
tician,  after  taking  great  pains  in  the  calculation,  declared 
that  the  men  when  obliged  to  take  so  much  trouble  to  get 
water,  did  not  drink  more  than  two  fifths  as  much  as  they 
did  when  the  water-cask  was  at  hand,  and  they  were  allowed 
to  drink  out  of  a  quart  pot ! 

But  it  was  not  long  necessary  to  continue  this  .expedient, 
for  one  day  in  the  latitude  of  about  three  degrees  north,  after 
a  dead  calm  for  eight  and  forty  hours,  heavy  clouds  were 
seen  rising  from  every  part  of  the  horizon.  Soon  were  seen 
the  flashes  of  the  forked  lightning,  while  the  mutterings  of 
the  distant  thunder  were  heard.  The  dark  clouds  rapidly 
gathered  in  the  zenith  and  seemed  to  pour  out  cataracts  of 
fire,  while  the  stunning  claps  of  thunder,  peal  after  peal, 
sounded  in  the  ears  of  the  crew  of  the  Saladin,  like  the  awful 
artillery  of  heaven ! 


68  MARK   ROWLAND. 

And  now  the  rain  began  to  come  down,  not  in  large  heavy 
drops,  but  in  sheets.  It  was  a  continuous  stream  instead  of 
a  shower ;  or  if  a  shower,  such  an  one  as  was  never  experi 
enced  excepting  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  equator.  All 
hands  were  called  to  "fill  up  the  water-casks."  The  scup 
pers  were  stopped  with  swabs,  and  the  rain-water  was  soon 
knee-deep  on  deck.  Pails,  pans,  pots,  and  noggins,  all  were 
put  in  requisition.  The  empty  casks  were  soon  filled,  and 
every  vessel  that  would  hold  water  also.  Before  the  shower 
was  over,  and  it  did  not  last  an  hour,  the  Saladin  was  far 
better  supplied  with  fresh  water  than  when  she  left  the  wharf 
in  Boston  ;  and  greatly  to  the  gratification  of  the  sailors  the 
half-pint  can  was  taken  down  from  the  cross-trees. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

! !  'V 

AN  UNTIMELY  NAP. 


THE  ship  Saladin,  having  been  detained  unusually  long  in 
these  low  latitudes  by  calms,  was  forced  a  considerable  way 
out  of  her  proper  course  by  the  strong  current  that  contin 
ually  sets  to  the  westward  in  that  part  of  the  Atlantic  which 
embraces  a  few  degrees  on  each  side  of  the  equator,  and 
gives  the  original  impulse  to  that  remarkable  current,  which 
pouring  out  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  sweeping  along  the 
coast  of  the  United  States,  is  known  as  the  Gulf  Stream. 
Captain  Somers  was  not  aware  of  the  strength  of  the  cur 
rent,  for  he  had  no  chronometer,  and  had  neglected  to  ascer 
tain  his  longitude  by  lunar  observations,  and  on  the  second 
morning  after  the  inundating  thunder-shower,  which  came  so 
opportunely,  soon  after  the  sun  rose  above  the  horizon,  he 
was  greatly  astonished  to  hear  the  cry  of"  Land  ho  !  "  from 
the  mast-head. 

This  land  proved  to  be  the  little  island  of  Ponedo,  or  St. 
Paul,  a  barren,  and  of  course  uninhabited  rock,  rising  to  the 
height  of  one  hundred  or  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  out  of  the 
sea,  and  situated  about  a  degree  north  of  the  equator  at  a 
long  distance  from  other  land,  being  nearly  midway  between 
the  continents  of  Africa  and  America. 

The  ship  gradually  drew  towards  the  island,  and  the  sea 
being  smooth,  the  weather  pleasant,  and  the  light  wind  hav 
ing  died  away,  Captain  Somers  was  induced  to  send  Mr. 


70  MARK  ROWLAND. 

Smeaton,  the  second  mate,  ashore  in  the  ship's  yawl,  with  a 
boat's  crew,  and  a  good  supply  of  fishing-tackle,  to  procure 
a  stock  of  fresh  fish  and  bird's  eggs,  as  well  as  to  explore 
the  island.  Mark  Rowland  earnestly  begged  permission  to 
go  in  the  boat,  and  the  captain  consented  to  his  wish. 

The  boat  shored  off,  and  in  a  short  time  reached  the  shore, 
which  was  hardly  a  mile  off,  in  a  south-western  direction. 
Mr.  Smeaton  found  little  difficulty  in  landing  from  a  small 
nook  or  cove  in  the  western  side  of  the  island.  And  fine 
amusement  the  sailors  had  in  clambering  over  the  cliffs, 
picking  up  the  eggs  of  sea-birds,  frightening  the  birds  them 
selves  by  their  boisterous  greeting,  and  taking  shell-fish  of 
various  kinds  from  the  rocks  at  the  edge  of  the  water.. 

Vegetation  was  scarce  on  the  island,  for  there  was  little  or 
no  soil.  A  few  scraggy  bushes,  and  tufts  of  coarse  grass 
grew  in  some  of  the  cavities  in  the  rocks ;  but  the  air  was 
alive  with  birds,  the  only  inhabitants,  which  screamed  and 
scolded  vociferously  at  being  thus  rudely  disturbed,  insulted, 
and  robbed ;  and  fish  of  different  sizes  and  variegated  colors, 
abounded  in  the  waters  which  broke  on  its  rugged  shores, 
and  kindly  allowed  themselves  to  be  caught  by  the  sailors 
who  stood  on  the  rocks  which  hung  over  the  water,  and  cast 
in  their  lines,  to  which  were  appended  cod-hooks  baited  with 
tempting  pieces  of  pork. 

The  calm  continued,  and  there  seemed  no  prospect  of  a 
breeze.  The  surface  of  the  ocean  looked  like  a  gigantic 
mirror.  Of  course  Mr.  Smeaton  saw  no  necessity  for  being 
in  a  hurry  to  terminate  the  exploration  and  return  to  the 
ship.  He  and  the  sailors  enjoyed  themselves  for  an  hour 
and  a  half,  not  aware  of  the  lapse  of  time.  They  had  a  reg 
ular  frolic,  —  sung,  danced,  and  shouted,  and  procured  and 
placed  in  the  boat  a  generous  supply  of  fish  and  eggs  of  the 
sea-fowl,  to  say  nothing  of  crabs,  crawfish  as  big  as  lobsters, 
and  Deriwinkles  without  number. 


AN   UNTIMELY   NAP.  71 

The  sailors,  having  such  a  glorious  time,  were  desirous  to 
make  the  most  of  it,  and  all  with  the  exception  of  Mark 
Kowland  slowly  and  reluctantly  assembled  near  the  boat 
after  Mr.  Smeaton  hapl  more  than  once  reminded  them  that 
it  was  time  to  go  on  board ;  and  then  their  attention  was 
attracted  to  the  manoeuvres  of  a  large  shark  which  had  closely 
approached  the  rocks,  aware  that  something  was  going  on 
that  might  redound  to  hjs  advantage.  Perhaps  he  dreamed 
of  making  a  dinner  off  the  leg  of  a  sailor. 

While  they  still  lingered  on  the  rocks,  they  were  suddenly 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  duty,  by  the  sound  of  a  gun ; 
and  Mr.  Smeaton,  on  mounting  the  summit  of  a  rock,  whence 
he  could  obtain  a  survey  of  the  ocean,  saw  the  Saladin  with 
her  ensign  flying,  as  a  signal  for  the  boat's  crew  to  hasten  on 
board.  The  reason  for  this  signal  was  also  seen,  for  in  the 
east  a  dark  squall  was  rapidly  rising,  and  the  flashes  of  light 
ning  were  already  visible,  followed  'by  low  mutterings  of 
distant  thunder. 

Mr.  Smeaton  was  greatly  alarmed,  for  he  well  knew  how 
suddenly  the  squalls  make  their  appearance  in  these  lati 
tudes,  and  how  fiercely  they  sometimes  blow,  although  the 
tempest  is  usually  short-lived.  He  upbraided  himself  for  not 
keeping  a  more  vigilant  lookout,  and  ordered  the  men  into 
the  boat  immediately.  His  orders  were  promptly  obeyed, 
for  the  sailors  had  heard  the  signal-gun,  and  were  anxious 
only  to  return  to  the  ship.  They  scrambled  into  the  boat  in 
a  hurry,  seized  the  oars,  shoved  off,  and  were  leaving  the 
island,  when  Mr.  Smeaton,  to  his  great  consternation,  ascer 
tained  that  the  cabin-boy,  Mark  Rowland,  was  not  among 
them.  He  had  been  entirely  forgotten  in  the  bustle  of  de 
parture.  Where  was  he  ? 

The  men  were  ordered  to  "  back  water,  forthwith."  Mr. 
Smeaton  landed  again,  and  with  three  of  the  sailors  pro 
ceeded  in  search  of  the  missing  cabin-boy.  They  shouted 


72  MARK  ROWLAND. 

his  name  repeatedly,  but  the  shrill  screams  of  the  sea-gulls, 
were  their  only  answer.  They  clambered  over  the  craggy 
rocks,  traversed  the  island,  and  examined  the  cavities  and 
chasms,  but  no  trace  of  Mark  Rowland  could  be  found.  He 
had  strangely  disappeared,  how,  they  knew  not,  but  finally 
came  to  the  melancholy  conclusion  that  while  venturing 
along  the  verge  of  same  overhanging  cliff,  he  had  fallen  down 
,  the  precipice  into  the  deep  waters  at  its  base,  and  was 
drowned. 

While  Mr.  Smeaton  and  the  boat's  crew  were  speculating 
upon  the  mysterious  fate  of  their  young  companion,  but 
without  relinquishing  their  search  among  the  rocks,  another 
gun  from  the  ship  attracted  their  attention,  and  reminded 
them  of  other  duties.  They  all  felt  that,  notwithstanding 
their  reluctance  to  quit  the  island  until  every  nook  and 
cranny  had  been  thoroughly  searched,  hopeless  as  such  a 
task  appeared  to  be,  they  must  not  tarry  longer,  but  hasten 
on  board  the  ship,  as  the  squall  was  coming  up  with  giant 
strides,  and  presenting  a  threatening  aspect.  They  knew 
that  if  they  lost  time,  and  neglected  to  ply  their  oars  lustily 
to  get  on  board  before  the  tempest  struck  the  ship,  the 
chances  were  decidedly  against  their  ever  treading  the  decks 
of  the  Saladin.  They  therefore  reluctantly,  abandoned  the 
poor  cabin-boy  to  his  fate,  and  making  strenuous  efforts, 
succeeded  in  getting  alongside  just  before  the  squall,  bear 
ing  with  it  sheets  of  rain  and  mist  and  furious  gusts  of 
wind,  struck  the  ship  with  a  mighty  force,  throwing  her  over 
nearly  on  her  beam-ends. 

There  was  no  time  for  asking  questions  or  relating  occur 
rences.  Every  man  was  obliged  to  take  hold  and  work  with 
a  will,  and  for  a  time  the  fate  of  Mark  Rowland  remained 
untold.  Before  the  boat  could  be  hoisted  to  the  quarter- 
davits,  the  storm  was  upon  them  in  all  its  fury.  The  wind 
blew  a  hurricane  for  a  time,  threatening  to  tear  the  canvas 
from  the  bolt-ropes.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents,  and  it  was 


AN   UNTIMELY   NAP.  73 

found  necessary  to  keep  the  ship  off  the  wind,  and  let  her 
scud  before  the  tempest. 

Long  before  the  sun  had  sunk  beneath  the  horizon  the 
gale  had  spent  its  fury,  the  dark  clouds  had  dispersed,  and 
the  Saladin  was  running  merrily  along  to  the  southward, 
under  the  influence  of  a  fine  breeze  from  the  eastward,  at 
the  rate  of  seven  or  eight  knots.  Yet  one  of  that  ship's 
company,  who  in  the  morning  was  with  them,  joyous  and 
happy,  was  missing.  Mark  Rowland,  the  cabin-boy,  whose 
courage,  energy,  and  amiable  disposition  had  made  him  be 
loved  by  every  inmate  of  the  cabin  or  forecastle,  was  no 
longer  on  board,  and  the  little  islet  of  Ponedo  was  no  longer 
visible  in  the  horizon. 

When  the  misfortune  which  had  happened  to  Mark  was 
made  known  by  Mr.  Smeaton,  a  gloom  was  spread  over  the 
whole  ship's  company.  From  the  circumstances  as  detailed 
it  was  clear,  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt,  that  Mark  was 
no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  living.  His  fate  was  deeply 
regretted  by  Captain  Somers,  as  the  interesting  cabin-boy 
was  commended  to  his  particular  care  by  Mr.  Fortesque,  the 
owner  of  the  ship.  The  captain  severely  rebuked  Mr. 
Smeaton  for  lingering  so  long  on  the  island,  and  neglect 
ing  to  look  closely  after  the  men  under  his  charge.  He  de 
posed  him  from  his  situation  as  second  officer,  and  made  him 
change  his  residence  from  the  cabin  to  the  forecastle. 

And  where  was  Mark  while  these  busy  scenes  were  en 
acted  on  board  the  Saladin  ?  He  had  exulted  in  the  pros 
pect  of  going  on  shore,  landing  on  the  little  island  of  St. 
Paul,  after  having  been  confined  to  a  ship  for  several  weeks. 
On  reaching  the  island,  and  stepping  out  of  the  boat  on  the 
rock,  he  was  almost  beside  himself  with  joy.  He  shook  off 
the  exuberance  of  his  animal  spirits  by  rambling  about,  and 
taking  the  lead  in  climbing  cliffs  and  precipices,  shouting 
and  frolicking,  and  seeking  after  novelties,  until  an  hour 


74  MARK  ROWLAND. 

passed  away,  and  he  became  fatigued  with  such  violent  exer 
cise,  with  the  sun  pouring  its  vertical  rays  upon  his  head. 

After  a  while  he  reached  the  extreme  southern  point  of 
the  islet,  and  while  examining  a  wild-looking  cavity,  discov 
ered  the  entrance  to  a  grotto,  scooped  out  of  the  solid  rock 
by  the  action  of  the  waves,  which  for  ages  had  been  beating 
and  clashing,  sometimes  with  tremendous  force,  against  the 
island  of  Ponedo.  He  passed  through  the  narrow  aperture, 
and  entered  the  cavern.  He  found  the  air  cool  and  refresh 
ing,  for  there  the  rays  of  the  sun  had  never  penetrated.  He 
seated  himself  on  the  fragment  of  a  rock,  and  leaned  back 
lazily  against  the  wall  of  the  cave,  intending  to  rest  for  a 
few  minutes,  and  then  make  his  way  back  to  the  boat.  But 
unfortunately  he  was  overtaken  by  sleep,  the  kind  agent 
provided  by  a  bountiful  Creator  to  relieve  the  fatigues  and 
renovate  the  physical  condition  of  man,  and  which  some 
times  makes  us  forgetful  of  our  interests  and  recreant  to  our 
duties. 

Mark  Rowland  slept  in  this  secluded  nook  long  and 
soundly,  lulled  by  the  murmuring  of  the  waves  as  they 
broke  on  the  iron-bound  shore.  He  was  at  last  awakened 
by  a  stunning  peal  of  thunder,  which  reverberated  from  the 
walls  of  the  cavern.  He  sprang  to  his  feet,  greatly  alarmed, 
and  for  a  few  moments  was  unconscious  of  his  situation* 
He  rushed  to  the  mouth  of  the  grotto,  and  listened  with  dis 
may  to  the  raging  of  the  wind  and  the  waves,  and  the  pat 
tering  of  the  heavy  raindrops  against  the  rocks.  The  stern 
reality  of  his  situation  then  burst  upon  him,  and  he  realized 
the  terrible  evil  that  had  befallen  him.  In  defiance  of  the 
tempest,  which  was  then  at  its  height,  he  left  the  grotto,  and 
madly  hastened,  climbing  over  the  rocks  in  his  way,  and 
leaping  over  dangerous  chasms,  towards  that  part  of  the 
island  on  which  he  had  landed  in  the  morning,  and  where  he 


AN  UNTIMELY  NAP.  75 

hoped  to  find  the  boat.    But  to  his  great  embarrassment  and 
grief,  the  boat  was  no  longer  there. 

Mark  looked  around  upon  the  rocks,  but  not  a  human 
being  was  to  be  seen.  He  looked  towards  the  ocean  for  the 
Saladin,  but  the  ship  shrouded  in  the  mist  and  rain  was  no 
longer  visible.  He  felt  now  that  he  was  deserted ;  that  he 
was  left  on  that  barren  rock  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  to 
exist,  perhaps,  a  few  days  in  dreadful  solitude,  and  then  die 
of  starvation  —  a  dreadful  death !  And  there,  upon  a  beet- 
ling  crag  which  overhung  the  foaming  breakers,  the  poor 
sailor-boy  sat,  regardless  of  the  storm  which  raged  around 
him.  And  there  he  long  remained,  looking  out  upon  the 
vast  watery  plain  before  him,  seeking  but  in  vain  to  pierce 
the  thick  veil  which  concealed  the  ship  from  his  view. 

At  length  the  storm  ceased,  the  clouds  rolled  away.  The 
rays  of  the  setting  sun  gilded  the  cliffs  and  peaks  above 
him,  and  the  whole  extended  horizon  appeared  lilte  a  far-off 
circular  line  drawn  around  the  island.  He  then  climbed  the 
highest  pinnacle  of  the  rocks,  and  gazed  intently  in  every 
direction.  His  forebodings  had  not  deceived  him.  The  ship 
Saladin  had  sailed  away  on  her  voyage,  and  Mark  Rowland 
was  left  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul. 

This  was  a  fearful  shock  to  his  feelings.  The  sudden 
change  in  his  condition  for  a  time  bereft  him  of  all  his  for 
titude,  and  he  was  overwhelmed  with  grief.  He  thought  of 
his  home,  of  his  mother,  his  brother  and  sister,  those  dear 
ones  whom  he  had  left  to  become  a  sailor,  with  the  hope  and 
determination  to  improve  their  condition,  and  render  their 
home  more  comfortable  and  happy.  He  thought  of  the  ship, 
of  the  kind  and  indulgent  captain,  and  the  friendly  and 
jovial  crew,  with  whom  he  had  been  pleasantly  associated 
only  a  few  hours  before.  And  then  the  desolation  of  his 
situation  recurred  to  him,  arrayed  in  the  darkest  colors.  He 
was  alone  on  the  •  island,  without  provisions  or  resources  of 


76  MARK  ROWLAND. 

any  description,  abandoned  by  his  shipmates,  undoubtedly, 
under  the  mistaken  impression  — •  a  very  natural  one  under 
the  circumstances  —  that  some  fatal  accident  had  befallen 
him.  Bitterly  he  reproached  himself,  and  rued  his  folly  in 
lingering  in  the  cavern,  and  subjecting  himself  to  such  ter 
rible  consequences.  He  knew  that  the  island  was  but  a 
cluster  of  barren  rocks  in  the  midst  of  the  wide  Atlantic, 
and  but  rarely  seen ;  and  his  imagination  continued  to  pic 
ture,  in  fearful  distinctness,  a  miserable,  lingering  death. 

As  the  shades  of  evening  advanced,  —  and  they  come  on 
rapidly  after  sunset  in  those  latitudes,  —  Mark,  in  a  despair 
ing  mood,  threw  himself  in  a  hollow  among  the  rocks,  but 
he  could  not  sleep.  For  a  long  time  he  lay  pondering  on 
his  unhappy  condition,  and  indulging  gloomy  conjectures 
respecting  his  future  fate.  Then  he  arose  and  looked  out 
upon  the  wide-spread  ocean,  upon  which  darkness,  like  a 
funeral  pall,  seemed  to  rest.  Then  he  gazed  upon  the 
heavens  above,  again  obscured  with  clouds,  hardly  a  star 
deigning  to  send  forth  its  bright  beams  to  cheer  his  despond 
ing  heart.  All,  everything,  seemed  to  remind  him  the  more 
forcibly  of  his  solitude,  destitution,  and  helplessness. 

But  now,  as  he  stood,  as  it  were,  on  the  very  verge  of 
despair,  his  guardian  angel  brought  to  view  In  bright  and 
living  characters,  the  religious  precepts  which  a  good  and 
pious  mother  had  early  sought  to  inculcate  on  his  mind.  He 
dropped  on  his  knees  and  prayed  to  God  for  support  and 
assistance  in  that  dark  hour  of  peril  and  tribulation.  His 
mind  became  comparatively  calm.  He  soon  fell  asleep,  and 
slept  soundly  several  hours. 

And  while  he  slept,  a  change  came  over  his  spirits,  and 
he  was  blessed  with  pleasant  dreams.  He  dreamed  that 
after  having  passed  through  a  whole  host  of  wild  adventures, 
he  was  suddenly  transported  by  some  magic  influence  to  his 
home  in  the  little  village  of  Glenmaple.  His  mother,  with 


AN   UNTIMELY  NAP.  77 

Albert  and  Ellen,  came  forth  to  meet  him,  and  greeted  him 
with  embraces  and  kisses.  They  led  him  into  their  dwell 
ing,  no  longer  an  humble  one,  dedicated  to  poverty,  but  a 
beautiful,  light,  and  airy  edifice,  in  the  centre  of  a  large- 
garden,  teeming  with  fruits  and  flowers. 

To  his  great  surprise  and  delight,  they  ushered  him  into  a 
spacious  hall,  where  the  furniture  was  gay  and  elegant,  and 
a  volume  of  light,  dazzling  with  its  brilliancy,  burst  upon 
his  vision  from  a  countless  number  of  golden  lamps,  sus 
pended  from  the  ceiling. 

And  while  he  looked  upon  the  scene,  bewildered  and  over 
joyed,  his  mother  threw  open  the  foMing-doors  at  the  end 
of  the  apartment,  and  a  whole  bevy  of  children  rushed  in, 
with  loud  and  uproarious  shouts  of  welcome,  and  surrounded 
him,  halloing  and  screaming  in  his  very  ears  their  mad  de 
light  at  his  safe  return,  until  he  became  stunned  and  stupi- 
fied  with  the  noise,  and  begged  them  to  have  mercy  and? 
desist,  but  in  vain.  The  lamps  burned  more  painfully  bril 
liant,  and  the  shouts  of  triumph  and  welcome  became  more 
and  more  loud,  shrill,  and  discordant,  until  he  awoke  and 
found  to  his  great  disappointment  that  the  whole  scene, 
which  was  stamped  on  his  mind  like  a  beautiful  reality,  was 
only  a  dream ! 

The  brilliant  light  which  flashed  upon  *his  eyes  was  no 
other  than  the  dazzling  rays  of  the  sun,  which,  as  that  lu 
minary  was  now  high  in  the  heavens,  streamed  on  his  face 
and  awoke  him,  and  the  loud  and  uproarious  shouts  of  wel 
come  from  children  were  changed  into  the  screams  of  a 
countless  number  of  sea-birds,  which,  flying  about  him,  and 
manifesting  their  surprise  ancj  anger  at  his  presence,  soon 
brought  him  to  his  senses. 

He  rubbed  his  eyes  and  crawled  out  of  the  cavity  in  which 
he  had  ensconced  himself,  and  looked  around.  Sleep  had 


78  MARK  ROWLAND. 

restored  his  exhausted  faculties ;  his  dream  had  brought 
comfort,  and  he  no  longer  indulged  in  desponding  forebod 
ings.  Hope,  like  a  benignant  angel,  came  to  his  assistance, 
and  he  resolved  to  lose  no  time  in  taking  a  full  survey  of  the 
place  on  which  he  had  so  unexpectedly  become  a  resident, 
and  learn  something  of  its  resources  and  means  of  sustaining 
life. 

He  soon  saw  enough  to  convince  him  that,  although  his 
condition  was  by  no  means  a  pleasant  one,  it  was  not  alto 
gether  hopeless.  He  was  alone,  it  was  true.  This  was  a 
great  misfortune.  There  was  no  one  to  converse  with,  to 
share  in  his  fears,  to  jsympathize  in  his  hopes,  or  advise  him 
in  regard  to  his  actions.  He  must  rely  altogether  on  him 
self,  and  devise  means  of  procuring  subsistence  on  this  bar 
ren  rock,  and  make  himself  as  comfortable  as  circumstances 
would  permit,  until  some  passing  vessel  should  discover  his 
forlorn  condition  and  take  him  off. 

He  now  recalled  to  mind  that  he  had  heard  Captain 
Somers  say  that  the  island  of  St.  Paul  was  seldom  fallen 
in  with  by  ships  on  the  passage  to  India,  or  on  their  return 
from  ports  beyond  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  he  sighed 
as  he  thought  that  months,  perhaps  years,  might  elapse,  be 
fore  any  vessel  would  pass  the  island  near  enough  to  see  his 
signals,  and  take  him  on  board.  And  it  became  an  impor 
tant  question  how  in  the  meantime  he  should  find  means  of 
subsistence?  What  did  the  island  produce  to  satisfy  his 
hunger  and  contribute  to  his  comfort? 

Mark  walked  across  the  island,  and  looked  around  him  on  . 
every  side  ;  but  he  saw  nothing  belonging  to  the  vegetable 
kingdom  which  was  calculated  to  cheer  his  spirits  and 
strengthen  his  hopes.  No  fruits  nor  edible  roots  of  any  de 
scription  were  to  be  found.  There  were  birds,  however,  of 
the  web-footed  tribe,  in  abundance.  He  could  easily  cap- 


AN  UNTIMELY  NAP.  79 

y 

ture  them  if  he  wished,  for  they  were  unaccustomed  to  the 
sight  of  man,  and  although  much  disturbed  and  angry  at  his 
presence,  were  hardly  disposed  to  get  out  of  his  way.  The 
eggs  of  these  sea-birds,  deposited  in  rude  nests,  he  found  in 
great  profusion  among  the  rocks. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

HERMIT   LIFE. 

WHILE  carefully  examining  the  rocks  near  the  spot  where 
the  boat's  crew  had  landed  the  day  before,  Mark  Rowland 
found  a  couple  of  fishing-lines,  with  the  hooks  attached,  that 
had  been  forgotten  by  Mr.  Smeaton  in  the  hurry  of  his  de 
parture.  He  rejoiced  at  this,  for  he  knew  that  with  their 
aid  he  would  he  able  to  catch  fish  whenever  he  took  a  fancy 
for  such  a  luxury.  He  thus  ascertained  beyond  a  doubt  that 
he  could  procure  on  the  island,  with  hardly  any  trouble,  an 
abundant  supply  of  eggs,  fish,  and  fowl.  But  a  shade  came 
over  his  mind  when  he  reflected  that,  unfortunately,  he  had 
no  fire  by  which  to  cook  them. 

He  had  heard  that  the  savages  in  America  procured  fire 
by  rubbing  together  two  pieces  of  dry  wood.  There  were  a 
few  sticks  and  branches  of  trees  and  pieces  of  boards  and 
small  spars  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  island,  that  had  been 
driven  high  up  among  the  rocks  by  the  action  of  the  winds 
and  the  waves.  He  selected  a  couple  of  pieces  of  wood 
which  he  thought  would  answer  his  purpose,  and  rubbed 
them  together  for  a  long  time.  But  although  he  succeeded 
in  producing  by  the  friction  a  very  sensible  heat,  he  failed 
to  obtain  fire,  or  even  to  raise  a  smoke.  He  often  repeated 
the  experiment,  but  always  with  a  similar  unsatisfactory 
result.  It  should  be  mentioned,  however,  that  the  wood 
which  he  was  obliged  to  use  had  been,  soaking  in  salt  water 
for  weeks  or  months  before  it  was  thrown  on  the  rocks. 


HERMIT  LIFE.  81 

Otherwise  it  is  quite  probable  he  would  have  succeeded  in 
obtaining  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  which  a  fire 
would  have  furnished,  and  which  are  many,  even  in  a  trop 
ical  climate. 

Mark  found,  greatly  to  his  satisfaction,  abundance  of 
fresh  water  in  the  hollows  of  the  rocks,  which  had  fallen  in 
the  late  rains,  and  fearing  that  it  might  evaporate,  he  pru 
dently  took  measures  immediately  to  prevent  such  a  result 
by  covering  these  pools  with  bushes  and  boards,  and  thus 
screening  them,  so  far  as  it  was  in  his  power,  from  the  trojf- 
ical  heat.  And  as  rain  fell  in  abundance  at  brief  intervals 
during  his  stay  on  the  island,  he  never  wanted  for  pure  fresh 
water  —  a  blessing  indeed !  for  which  he  was  devoutly 
thankful. 

The  second  day  that  Mark  passed  on  the  island,  although 
he  longed  for  a  plentiful  meal,  he  partook  of  no  food  except 
ing  some  bird's  eggs,  which  he  swallowed  raw,  from  neces 
sity  rather  than  choice,  and  solaced  his  thirst  with  water. 
But  on  the  following  day,  he  was  much  gratified  to  find 
clinging  to  the  rocks,  and  in  the  little  basins  filled  with  sea- 
water,  shell-fish  of  various  kinds,  and  among  them  a  species 
resembling  the  oyster,  which  he  tasted  and  found  delicious. 
Here  at  once  he  became  possessed  of  an  almost  inexhausti 
ble  supply  of  nutritious  food,  and  was  relieved  of  all  fears 
of  immediate  starvation. 

He  found  a  cavity  in  the  rocks,  overhung  by  a  frowning 
cliff.  He  took  possession  of  it,  and  with  little  trouble  con 
verted  it  into  an  eligible  sleeping-chamber.  By  covering 
the  bottom  with  coarse  grass  and  dried  gulf-weed,  which  he 
could  procure  in  any  quantity,  he  made  a  soft  and  luxurious 
bed,  on  which  he  threw  himself  whenever  he  sought  repose, 
by  night  or  by  day,  and  buried  his  cares,  his  griefs,  and  his 
hopes,  in  sleep. 

On  a  huge  cliff  which  jutted  into  the  ocean  on  the  north- 


82  MARK  ROWLAND. 

ern  part  of  the  island,  he  contrived  to  erect  the  tallest  pole 
or  spar  which  he  could  find,  as  a  flag-staff^  on  the  top  of 
which,  by  means  of  one  of  his  fishing-lines,  he  could  at  any 
moment  display,  as  a  signal  of  distress,  the  thin  nankeen 
jacket  which  he  fortunately  wore  when  he  left  the  ship  with 
a  light  and  joyous  heart,  exulting  in  the  prospect  of  explor 
ing  a  desert  island. 

At  the  foot  of  this  flag-staff,  from  which  he  could  survey 
the  whole  line  of  the  horizon,  he  often  passed  his  evening 
hours,  refreshed  by  the  cool  breezes,  after  suffering  from  the 
stifling  heat  of  the  day ;  and  every  morning  before  the  rising 
of  the  sun  he  sought  this  cliff,  and  threw  around  a  searching 
gaze,  hoping  to  see  some  friendly  vessel  which  would  take 
him  from  his  solitary  abode  and  return  him  to  his  friends. 

When  Mark  had  been  about  a  week  the  sole  human  inhab 
itant  of  the  island  of  St.  Paul  he  was  surprised  one  morning 
on  visiting  a  low  point  near  the  water's  edge,  to  find  that 
the  salt  water  which  had  filled  some  of  the  hollows  of  the 
rocks,  had  evaporated,  owing  to  the  extreme  heat  of  the  sun 
for  several  days,  and  left  crystals  of  salt.  He  tasted  it  and 
satisfied  himself  that  there  was  no1  mistake  in  the  matter.  It 
was  genuine  salt,  and  he  now  recollected  to  have  heard  that 
a  large  portion  of  the  salt  used  was  made  by  the  evapora 
tion  of  salt  water.  He  was  delighted  at  this  discovery,  for 
he  had  deeply  felt  the  want  of  this  condiment,  which  is  so 
necessary  in  the  preparation  and  preservation  of  food.  He 
went  busily  to  work,  and  collected  a  good  supply,  lest  he 
might  not  meet  with  such  another  opportunity,  and  deposited 
it  in  a  nook  where  it  would  not  be  exposed  to  the  action  of 
the  rains. 

Before  he  made  this  discovery,  he  had  at  various  times 
caught  fish  with  the  lines  left  behind  by  the  sailors  ;  but  he 
found  it  an  exceedingly  difficult  matter  to  eat  them  raw, 
without  salt  or  seasoning  of  any  description.  He  now  again 


HERMIT  LIFE.  83 

caught  some  fish,  split  them  open,  and  sprinkled  them  with 
salt  as  he  had  seen  his  mother  do  with  the  pickerel  he  some 
times  caught  in  Rhadamanthus  pond.  He  then  placed  them 
in  the  sun,  which  dried  them,  when  they  could  be  kept  for' 
months,  and  proved  a  very  acceptable  species  of  food.  Thus 
Mark  found,  that  by  a  little  skill,  address,  and  calculation, 
he  was  in  little  danger  of  being  a  great  sufferer  from  hunger 
or  thirst,  for  a  long  while  to  come. 

The  kinds  of  food  were  not  such  as  he  had  been  accus 
tomed  to,  or  such  as  he  would  have  chosen  if  a  variety  had 
been  set  before  him,  and  they  would  have  been  wonderfully 
improved  if  they  had  gone  through  the  process  of  cooking. 
But  he  had  no  choice,  and  devoured  with  a  good  appetite 
such  viands  as  by  enterprise  and  ingenuity  he  was  able  to 
procure.  What  he  most  felt  the  need  of  was  bread,  or  some 
substitute,  as  potatoes ;  but  he  knew  that  nothing  of  the 
kind  could  be  obtained,  and,  like  a  true  philosopher,  avoid 
ed  pining  after  luxuries,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  make  the 
best  of  his  condition  without  them. 

Mark  had  been  on  the  island  about  a  month,  when  one 
day  he  was  busily  engaged  in  pulling  up  some  coarse  grass, 
which  was  rooted  in  the  soil  of  bird-lime  or  guano  that 
abounded  in  some  of  the  cavities.  With  this  grass  he  had 
been  for  some  days  exerting  all  his  ingenuity  in  an  attempt 
to  manufacture  an  apology  for  a  hat.  On  raising  his  head 
and  looking  abroad,  his  joy  and  astonishment  may  be  con 
ceived,  when  he  saw  a  vessel,  a  large  brig,  but  a  few  miles 
off,  standing  to  the  southward,  under  a  press  of  sail,  urged 
on  her  way  by  a  pleasant  breeze  from  the  eastward. 

His  heart  throbbed  with  excitement.  His  exile  was  sure 
ly  ended  I  He  would  soon  be  among  his  fellow-creaturts 
once  more,  gay  and  happy !  He  hastened  to  the  flag-staff  on 
the  cliff  and  hoisted  his  jacket,  and  fearing  that  it  might  not 


84  MARK   ROWLAND. 

be  large  enough  to  be  distinctly  seen  at  a  distance,  stripped 
himself  of  his  shirt,  in  order  to  magnify  his  signal. 

But  the  grief  and  disappointment  of  Mark  may  be  imag 
ined,  when  the  brig  after  having  reached  the  position  near 
est  to  the  island  in  passing,  continued  on  her  course  and 
made  no  sign !  Mark's  signal  was  disregarded,  and,  being 
but  a  few  feet  above  the  rock,  was  in  all  probability  unseen ; 
for  it  is  difficult  to  suppose  that  any  man  could  see  a  signal 
of  distress  flying  from  a  desert  island,  without  heaving-to  at 
once,  and  daring  all  risks  in  dispatching  a  boat  to  learn  its 
meaning. 

A  few  weeks  after  this  incident,  while  Mark  was  engaged 
in  searching  among  the  rocks  on  the  sea-shore  for  a  species 
of  shell-fish  which  he  found  by  experience  to  be  delicious 
food,  he  saw  in  a  little  hollow,  just  out  of  reach  of  the 
breakers,  what  appeared  to  be  a  piece  of  leather,  half  buried 
beneath  the  gravel.  Surprised  at  such  an  unwonted  sight, 
he  took  hold  of  it  in  order  to  ascertain  its  character  and 
condition.  He  pulled  and  tugged  with  all  his  force  to  get  it 
from  the  place  where  it  had  been  thrown  by  chance,  cr  hid 
den  designedly,  and,  to  his  great  astonishment,  he  drew 
forth  a  bag,  containing  something  not  bulky,  but-  extremely 
heavy.  The  string  which  confined  the  mouth  of  the  bag  was 
decayed,  and  fell  apart  while  he  was  extricating  the  bag 
froin  the  gravel,  and  his  exultation  and  joy  knew  no  bounds 
when  he  found  that  the  leathern  bag  was  filled  with  golden 
coins !  He  had  discovered  a  treasure  on  the  desert  island. 

But  his  exultation  at  the  sight  of  gold  was  not  of  long  du 
ration.  His  reason  soon  convinced  him  that  these  golden 
coins  were  of  no  use  to  him  in  his  present  condition.  And 
as  he  saw  no  immediate  prospect  of  leaving  the  island,  and 
longed  for  a  change  of  food,  he  would  gladly  have  exchanged 
the  whole  pile  of  doubloons  for  a  few  loaves  of  bread,  or  a 
dozen  of  baked  potatoes. 


HERMIT   LIFE.  85 

How  the  bag  of  money,  which  was  as  heavy  as  he  could 
conveniently  carry,  became  deposited  in  that  desolate  spot, 
was  a  problem  that  never  was  solved.  Pie  supposed  it  must 
have  belonged  to  some  unfortunate  men  who  were  cast  away 
on  the  island  with  their  treasure,  and  died  of  grief  and  hun 
ger.  And  he  shuddered  as  he  thought  that  their  unhappy 
fate  might  eventually  be  his  own.  His  conjectures  were 
confirmed  on  discovering  in  a  cavity  among  the  rocks,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  spot  where  he  found  the  gold,  some 
bones,  bleached  by  the  sun  and  rain,  which  he  felt  assured 
were  a  part  of  a  human  skeleton.  This  frightful  discovery 
put  a  stop  to  further  investigations  in  that  quarter  of  the 
island. 

One  moonlight  evening  Mark  climbed  to  the  summit  of 
the  cliff  to  enjoy  the  sea-breeze,  at  the  close  of  a  very  sultry 
day,  as  he  was  wont  to  do.  He  seated  himself  on  a  rock, 
his  back  resting  against  the  flag-staff,  and  looked  abroad 
upon  the  ocean.  His  spirits  were  unusually  depressed,,  for 
he  was  sick  of  solitude,  and  had  been  thinking  of  his  home. 
For  more  than  two  hours  he  remained  watching  the  rippling 
of  the  waves  and  the  dancing  of  the  moonbeams.  Mark  did 
not  altogether  despond,  but  he  was  beginning  to  grow  impa 
tient  at  his  long  stay  on  the  island.  It  was  strongly  im 
pressed  on  his  mind  that  it  would  not  be  his  fate  to  be  left 
there  to  die  miserably,  alone,  and  by  inches ;  but  that, 
sooner  or  later,  he  would  be  rescued  by  some  passing  ship. 

And  this  confidence  in  his  future  good  fortune,  this  un 
shaken  belief  that  "better  days  were  coming,"  did  noble 
service  in  sustaining  his  health  amid  the  deprivations  and 
troubles  which  surrounded  him,  and  which  would  have  crushed 
to  the  earth  never  to  rise  again,  the  spirits  and  frame  of  one 
who  cherished  no  hope,  but  abandoned  himself  to  despair. 
And  Mark  was  right.  He  reasoned  according  to  the  dictates 
of  sound  philosophy.  We  can  hardly  conceive  of  a  situation 
8 


86  MARK  ROWLAND. 

in  life  so  deplorable  as  to  be  altogether  hopeless,  where  by 
the  energetic  exercise  of  the  gifts  we  have  received  from  our 
Creator,  there  is  no  .possibility  of  escaping  an  impending 
danger,  or  improving  our  condition,  however  depressed  or 
however  perilous. 

While  Mark  was  gazing  vacantly  on  the  broad  sheet  spread 
out  before  him,  and  listening  to  the  hoarse  and  irregular 
sound  of  the  breakers  as  they  dashed  against  the  rocks,  and 
recalling  the  past,  sighing  over  the  present,  and  speculating 
on  the  future,  he  was  roused  from  his  reveries  by  the  sight 
of  a  white  speck  on  the  distant  horizon,  the  line  of  which 
in  the  clear,  cloudless  night  was  distinctly  defined.  The 
moon  by  this  time  was  nearly  on  the  meridian.  Could  this 
white  speck  be  the  moon's  pure  rays  reflected  from  the  sail& 
of  a  ship  ?  It  must  be  so ;  there  could  be  no  other  mode  of 
explaining  the  unusual  phenomenon. 

Mark  was  deeply  agitated ;  the  dim  appearance  of  a  ves 
sel  afar  off,  filled  his  mind  with  associations  and  hopes  of  the 
most  buoyant  tendency.  A  vessel  was  in  sight,  bearing  on 
its  decks  human  beings.  His  solitude,  which  was  becoming 
unbearable,  seemed  already  relieved  of  half  its  weight. 

The  speck  became  rapidly  enlarged.  It  was  soon  manifest 
that  the  vessel,  with  a  large  spread  of  canvas,  was  approach 
ing  under  a  fine  breeze,  and  steering  a  straight  course  for  the 
island.  He  kept  his  eye  on  that  vessel,  and  with  intense 
interest  watched  her  proceedings.  And  now  he. longed  for 
the  means  of  making  a  fire  on  the  rock,  a  beacon-light  to 
warn  mariners  of  their  danger,  and  notify  them  that  a 
wretched  being  was  chained  to  that  desolate  spot,  and 
doomed  to  perish  miserably,  unless  some  assistance  was 
speedily  tendered. 

As  the  vessel  drew  near,  her  course  continued  unchanged. 
She  steered  directly  for  the  island,  being  apparently  close- 
hauled  on  the  wind.  The  moon  shone  out  with  unusual 


HERMIT   LIFE.  87 

splendor,  and  he  could  see  the  sails,  and  even  the  hull  of  a 
large  ship,  as  plainly  as  if  it  were  midday. 

Mark's  joy  was  changed  to  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  that 
vessel.  Were  those  on  board  aware  that  they  were  near  the 
land  ?  Had  they  no  suspicion  of  danger  ?  Where  was  the 
lookout  ?  Where  the  officer  of  the  deck  ?  Were  they  all 
wrapped  in  sleep,  and  the  ship  left  to  its  own  guidance  and 
that  of  a  sleepy  helmsman  ? 

The  ship  came  onward,  plunging  through  the  water.  He 
could  see  the  snow-white  foam  beneath  her  bows.  But  not  a 
man  was  visible  on  deck.  In  a  few  minutes,  unl'ess  her 
course  was  altered,  that  noble  vessel  would  be  wrecked  on 
the  rocks  which  lined  that  part  of  the  island  of  St.  Paul. 

At  that  moment  the  selfish  idea  flitted  across  his  mind, 
that  if  the  ship  struck  the  rocks  and  went  to  pieces,  his  own 
condition  in  all  likelihood  would  be  greatly  improved.  He 
would  thus  gain  some  companions ;  perhaps  food,  fire,  and 
clothing  ;  also,  perhaps,  boats,  materials  for  a  tent,  and  many 
comforts  and  necessaries,  the  absence  of  which  had  caused 
him  much  inconvenience  and  suffering  :  and  also  ultimately 
the  means  of  leaving  the  island  and  returning  to  his  native 
land. 

But  the  mind  of  Mark  Rowland  was  too  noble  to  harbor 
such  selfish  reflections.  They  were  dismissed  almost  before 
they  attained  a  definite  shape.  He  felt  instinctively  that 
they  were  wrong ;  that  it  was  his  duty  —  a  duty  from 
which  he  could  not  shrink  without  feeling  himself  a  craven 
and  a  criminal  —  to  exert  every  means  in  his  power  to 
warn  the  careless  crew  of  that  ship  of  their  danger,  that 
they  might  steer  'clear  of  the  rocks  and  proceed  on  their  voy 
age  in  safety. 

Acting  upon  this  generous  impulse,  as  soon  as  the  ship, 
dashing  onward  towards  destruction,  drew  near  enough  to 
the  rock  to  make  it  likely  that  his  voice  could  be  heard,  he 


88  MARK  ROWLAND. 

began  to  hail  in  a  loud  and  shrill  voice,  "  Ship  ahoy !  ship 
ahoy  !  Hard-up  your  helm,  or  you  will  be  ashore  !  Port ! 
Hard-a-port !  Ship  ahoy-oy-oy  !  Hard-a-port  your  helm  !  " 

The  warning  voice  of  Mark  Rowland  was  heard,  probably, 
by  the  helmsman,  nodding  at  his  post ;  and  the  sleepy  crew 
and  officers  were  aroused.  There  was  a  great  commotion  on 
deck,  and  a  running  to  and  fro  of  the  men.  Orders  were 
given  and  repeated,  and  the  shouting  and  swearing  were  on 
a  large  scale.  In  the  midst  of  the  tumult,  the  helm  was  un 
doubtedly  changed,  for  the  ship  fell  off  from  the  wind,  just 
grazed  the  rocks,  and  passing  so  near  that  Mark  could  have 
tossed  a  pebble  on  board,  rapidly  proceeded  on  her  course. 
The  loud  and  imploring  entreaties  of  Mark  that  a  boat  might 
be  sent  ashore  to  take  him  off,  were  probably  not  heard  in 
the  confusion,  or  if  heard  were  unheeded,  for  the  ship's  way 
continued  unchecked  and  she  soon  disappeared  in  the  south 
west. 

Mark's  disappointment  was  great.  He  had  heard  the 
voices  of  his  fellow-men,  and  he  yearned  to  be  with  them 
again.  It  was  long  that  night  before  he  closed  his  eyes- in 
sleep ;  and  the  next  morning,  when  he  awoke,  the  scene  so 
exciting,  so  unsatisfactory,  and  so  short-lived,  seemed  like  a 
feverish  dream. 

Days,  weeks,  and  months  passed  away,  — how  many,  Mark 
knew  not,  for  he  kept  no  record  of  time.  Although  he  was 
untiring  in  keeping  a  vigilant  lookout,  only  one  vessel  was 
seen  by  him  during  this  long,  tedious  period.  This  was  a 
ship  from  the  southward,  with  a  fair  wind  and  plenty  of  it, 
which  went  dashing  along,  homeward  bound,  thought  Mark, 
with  royals,  skysails  and  studding-sails  set ;  and  passing 
within  a  couple  of  leagues,  took  no  notice  of  the  signal  which 
Mark  displayed  from  the  summit  of  the  cliff. 

And  now  Mark  experienced  a  trouble  which  he  had  not 
calculated  upon.  His  diet,  although  not  unpalatable,  was 


HERMIT   LIFE.  89 

not  favorable  to  health.  His  strength  failed,  his  activity 
was  diminished,  and  his  frame  became  emaciated  ;  and  it  is 
no  wonder  that,  notwithstanding  his  constitutional  courage 
and  fortitude,  he  became  at  times  dejected  and  unhappy. 
He  thought  that  if  he  had  one  companion,  whatever  might 
be  his  race,  color,  age,  habits,  or  disposition,  with  whom  he 
could  converse  and  advise  and  sympathize,  it  would  relieve 
the  monotony  of  his  condition  and  contribute  to  his  happi 
ness.  He  envied  Robinson  Crusoe  the  companionship  of 
Friday,  and  proved  in  his  own  case  the  truth  of  the  old 
proverb,  "misery  loves  company." 

He  finally  hit  upon  an  expedient  to  procure  some  com 
panions,  some  living  creatures  to  whom  he  could  become 
attached,  and  which  would  love  him  in  return.  He  tamed  a 
couple  of  young  sea-gulls,  which  he  named  Albert  and  Ellen, 
the  names  of  his  brother  and  sister.  After  a  large  expendi 
ture  of  patience  and  perseverance,  he  succeeded  in  educating 
them  according  to  his  wishes.  They  would  hop  around  him, 
accompany  him  in  his  excursions,  enjoy  his  caresses,  and 
perch  on  his  shoulders.  He  passed  some  hours  every  day  in 
fondling  and  playing  with  his  pets. 

Mark  found  considerable  exercise  in  scrambling  about 
among,  the  rocks  ;  but  as  he  could  not  always  be  doing  this 
or  playing  with  his  sea-gulls,  which  proved  to  be  more  stu 
pid  than  intelligent,  he  felt  the  need  of  some  'pleasant  occu 
pation  or  amusement  to  divert  his  mind  from  the  contempla 
tion  of  his  troubles.  He  was  fond  of  swimming,  and  the 
smooth  sea  under  the  lee  of  the  islet  often  tempted  him  to 
plunge  in  and  enjoy  the  grateful  exercise  at  the  close  of  a 
sultry  day,  or  in  the  morning,  while  the  sun  was  emerging 
from  his  watery  bed. 

But  he  denied  himself  this  indulgence,  for  fear  of  meeting 
some  "  companions  of  the  bath,"  of  whom  he  had  a  whole 
some  dread.  More  than  once  he  had  seen  enough  to  con- 

8* 


90  MARK   ROWLAND. 

vince  him  that  the  waters  which  washed  the  shores  of  St. 
Paul  were  inhabited  by  sharks  of  uncommon  size  and  fero 
city.  He  knew,  from  experience,  that  the  monsters  took  a 
natural  liking  to  him,  and  would  gladly  welcome  him  to  their 
native  element,  and  give  him  painful  but  decided  proofs  of 
their  attachment  to  his  person.  But  their  affection  was  not 
reciprocated,  and  Mark  wisely  determined  to  give  them  a 
wide  berth  as  long  as  it  was  in  his  power. 

But  there  was  a  pool  in  the  south  side_of  the  island,  some 
eight  or  ten  fathoms  in  diameter,  and  of  unknown  depth, 
which  communicated  with  the  ocean  by  means  of  a  short 
qanal  or  chasm  in  the  rock,  where  the  water  was  not  more 
than  six  or  eight  feet  deep.  He  longed  to  bathe  in  this  pool 
when  he  first  examined  it,  but  put  a  curb  on  his  longings 
when  he  saw  that  a  large  shark,  a  shovel-nosed  shark,  had 
possession ;  and  he  felt  no  disposition  to  dispute  the  man- 
eating  rascal's  title  to  the  sovereignty.  Several  times  after 
wards  he  saw  one  or  more  of  these  grim-looking  gentlemen, 
swimming  slowly  about  near  the  surface,  and  for  a  time  he 
left  them  to  the  undisputed  enjoyment  of  all  the  pleasures 
of  the  pool. 

Nevertheless,  Mark  thought  it  hard  that  he  should  thus 
be  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  bathing  in  that  hot  climate, 
and  after  a  while  devised  a  plan  to  keep  out  the  sharks,  and 
monopolize  the  pool.  Fragments  of  rock  abounded  in  that 
part  of 'the  island,  and  he  went  vigorously  at  work  to  fill  the 
canal  with  rocks  of  large  size,  disposed  in  such  a  way  that, 
without  preventing  the  flow  of  water,  they  would  serve  as  an 
effectual  barrier  to  the  merciless  tyrants. 

This  was  a  laborious  task,  and  occupied  a  large  portion  of 
his  time  for  two  or  three  weeks.  But  he  finally  completed 
the  work,  greatly  to  his 'own  satisfaction,  and  exulted  in  hav 
ing  ,ousted  the  original  possessors  of  the  pool,  and  converted 
it  into  a  bathing-place  for  his  own  especial  use.  Hardly  a 


HERMIT   LIFE.  91 

day  passed  that  he  did  not  spend  an  hour  at  least  in  the 
water,  swimming  and  diving  and  practising  other  submarine 
feats,  until  he  became  almost  amphibious. 

One  day  as  Mark  was  fishing  for  a  species  of  large  red 
fish,  which  as  an  article  of  food  he  preferred  to  any  of  the 
finny  tribe,  he  felt  a  decided  bite.  He  pulled,  but  could  not 
start  the  fish!  Soon  the  fish  Bulled  in  his  turn,  and  was  very 
near  dragging  Mark  from  the  shelving  crag  into  the  water. 
He  took  a  turn  with  his  line  around  the  corner  of  a  rock, 
soon  after  which  the  fish  rose  to  the  surface,  and  to  the  great 
disgust  of  our  youthful  fisherman,  proved  to  be  a  shark. 
As  soon  as  he  came  in  sight,  he  made  a  short  but  decisive 
struggle,  broke  the  fishing-gear,  and  swam  leisurely  awajr, 
feloniously  carrying  off  the  two  hooks  and  a  couple  of  fath 
oms  of  line,  and,  as  it  appeared  to  Mark,  shaking  his  tail  in 
derision. 

Mark  was  justly  indignant  at  such  atrocious  conduct,  and 
resolved  from  that  moment  to  make  war,  and  war  to  the 
knife,  upon  that  man-tormenting  and  man-eating  race,  which 
seemed  to  be  always  interfering  with  his  crfmfort  or  threat 
ening  his  life.  He  determined  henceforth  to  make  it  a  pleas 
ure,  a  recreation,  a  business,  to  annoy,  and,  if  possible,  de 
stroy,  every  shark  which  dared  approach  the  rocks  that  lined 
the  island  of  St.  Paul. 

This  was  a  lucky  idea,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  although 
it  was  neither  pleasant  nor  profitable  to  the  sharks.  It  fur 
nished  him  with  occupation  and  amusement,  and  prevented 
him  from  dwelling  on  his  misfortunes,  and  lamenting  his 
protracted  stay  on  that  desert  island.  He  really  enjoyed 
the  sport,  as  he  called  it,'  and  followed  it  up  with  the  energy 
which  was  a  distinguishing  trait  in  his  character. 

He  would  tie  to  the  end  of  his  fishing-line  a  tempting  mor 
sel,  in  the  shape  of  a  sea-fowl  stripped  of  its  feathers  and 
split  open,  and  throw  it  as  far  from  the  rocks  as  his  strength 


92  MARK  ROWLAND. 

would  allow,  and  then  slowly  draw  it  towards  him.  In  this 
way,  if  there  were  any  sharks  in  the  vicinity,  he  would  toll 
them  around,  and  lure  them  in  closely  under  the  rocks. 
Then,  tajting  advantage  of  his  commanding  position,  he 
would  punch  them  with  a  heavy  pole,  sharpened  at  one  end, 
which  made  them  exceedingly  uncomfortable  and  angry,  or 
throw  down  upon  their  heads  huge  pieces  of  rock,  as  heavy 
as  he  could  lift,  which  would  seriously  unsettle  their  under 
standings,  and,  in  some  cases,  when  the  work  was  skilfully 
done,  destroy  life. 

On  one  occasion  he  narrowly  escaped  becoming  a  victim 
to  his  destructive  zeal.  He  had  succeeded,  after  having  for 
hours  exerted  all  his  skill,  in  enticing  within  reach  of  his 
missiles,  a  shark  of  the  largest  size,  and  secretly  determined 
to  punish  him  severely  for  the  trouble  he  had  caused  him. 
For  this  purpose  he  selected  a  large  piece  of  angular  rock, 
and  raised  it  as  high  as  he  could  reach,  directly  over  his  un 
suspecting  foe,. and  then  using  the  warning  language  which 
he  had  often  heard  on  shipboard,  he  called  out,  "  Stand  from 
under  !  "  and  brought  down  the  heavy  missile,  propelling  it 
with  all  his  force  upon  the  monster's  head. 

Unfortunately,  Mark  was  so  much  interested  in  his  attempt 
to  destroy  the  shark,  that  he  neglected  to  take  care  of  him 
self.  As  the  stone  left  his  hands,  his  foot  slipped,  he  lost 
his  balance,  and,  following  the  stone,  found  himself,  to  his 
surprise  and  terror,  the  next  moment  sitting  astride  on  the 
back  of  the  shark.  The  animal,  frightened  at  such  an  unex 
pected  visitation,  and  probably  severely  injured  by  the  fall 
ing  stone,  suddenly  sunk  down  in  the  water,  and  sheered  off 
to  a  distance,  and  Mark  saw  him  no  more. 

Mark  was  greatly  alarmed  at  this  unlooked-for  change  in 
his  position.  He  knew  not  that  other  sharks  were  not  lying 
in  wait  to  be  revenged  on  the  hated  persecutor  of  their  race, 
and  exerted  all  his  strength  and  skill  in  swimming  to  a  spot 


HERMIT   LIFE.  93 

some  twenty  yards  off,  where  he  could  crawl  out  of  the 
water  on  to  the  rocks,  fearing  and  more  than  half  suspect 
ing,  at  every  stroke  he  took,  that  a  shark  was  at  his  heels  in 
full  chase,  and  would  soon  fasten  on  one  of  his  limbs. 

This  incident  taught  Mark  Rowland  a  useful  lesson,  and 
ever  afterwards,  whenever  he  set  a  steel  trap  for  an  enemy, 
he  took  especial  pains  to  avoid  putting  his  own  foot  in  it. 


CHAPTER 

OCEAN  DEITIES! 

ONE  morning,  as  Mark  was  standing  on  the  rocks  by  the 
margin  of  the  pool,  and,  preparing  for  a  swim,  had  thrown 
off  the  ragged  garments  which  constituted  his  whole  ward 
robe,  and  was  about  to  take  the  refreshing  plunge,  he  be 
held,  greatly  to  his  astonishment,  a  strange-looking  head  pop 
up  out  of  the  water  but  a  few  fathoms  from  the  shore.  The 
head  Somewhat  resembled  the  head  of  a  dog,  and  yet  the 
features,  taken  together,  had  a  sort  of  human  look,  remind 
ing  one  of  an  exceedingly  homely,  repulsive-looking  savage, 
with  hairy  face  and  neck,  and  bright  sparkling  eyes. 

This  creature  fixed  his  eyes  steadily  on  Mark,  as  if  to  in 
quire  who  he  was,  and  what  business  he  had  on  the  island. 
Before  Mark  could  recover  from  his  surprise  at  the  sight  of 
such  an  unexpected  intruder,  another  head  of  a  similar  stamp 
showed  itself  near  the  same  spot,  and  with  a  defiant  expres 
sion,  indicating  that  he  was  not  to  be  trifled  With,  also  looked 
hard  at  the  cabin-boy. 

Mark  remained  motionless,  and  in  turn  stared  hard  at 
these  inquisitive  animals.  Both  parties  were  puzzled.  What 
they  thought  of  Mark,  as  he  stood  there  on  the  rocks,  with 
uncombed  hair,  bronzed  features,  and  naked  limbs,  was 
never  recorded.  Mark  had  heard  of  sea-serpents  and  mer 
maids,  sea-lions  and  seals,  walrusses  and  krakens,  and  other 
monsters  which  are  said  to  inhabit  the  great  deep,  and  some- 

04 


OCEAN   DEITIES.  95 

times  show  themselves  to  highly-favored  mariners.  Whether 
the  animals  with  these  strange-looking  heads,  and  who  ap 
peared  to  feel  themselves  perfectly  at  home,  belonged  to 
either  of  those  tribes,  was  more  than  his  learning  of  sagacity 
could  declare. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  heads,  as  if  satisfied  with  their 
scrutiny,  and  believing  they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  tye 
strange  and  awkward-looking  figure  on  the  rocks,  disap 
peared.  Mark  was  indignant  at  this  invasion  of  his  do 
minions,  and  was  particularly  incensed  at  the  idea  of  their 
taking  possession  of  his  "  pool "  for  the  performance  of 
their  ablutions.  These  interlopers  had  a  saucy  and  danger 
ous  look.  He  did  not  like  their  appearance,  and  felt  unwill 
ing  to  enter  the  waters  which  they  inhabited.  He  waited  a 
while  on  the  rocks  to  see  if  they  would  show  themselves 
again.  But  as  they  chose  to  remain  invisible  to  him,  he 
resumed  his  tattered  garments,  and  slowly  walked  away. 

A  few  mornings  afterwards,  Mark  saw  an  animal  of  a 
clumsy,  uncouth  shape,  covered  with  hair,  with  a  head  sim 
ilar  to  the  ones  he  had  seen  so  unexpectedly  thrust  out  of 
the  water,  and  legs  and  arms,  somewhat  resembling  the  fins 
of  a  fish,  stretched  out  lazily  on  a  rock,  close  to  the  edge  of 
the  pool.  As  Mark  went  towards  it  and  hallooed,  the  crea 
ture  slipped  off  the  rock  into  the  water,  and  he  saw  him  no 
more. 

Mark  felt  a  desire  to  learn  something  more  of  the  nature 
and  habits  of  his  new  visitors,  and  determined  to  watch 
their  haunts  and  study  their  characters,  and,  if  desirable, 
cultivate  their  acquaintance.  In  all  likelihood  he/  would 
•have  carried  his  project  into  effect,  and  established  a  treaty 
of  friendship  with  these  intruders,  had  not  an  incident  oc 
curred  which  entirely  changed  the  position  of  his  affairs,  and 
rendered  such  a  scheme  impracticable. 

He  had  been  on  the  bleak  and  barren  island  of  St.  Paul 


96  MARK    ROWLAND. 

about  eight  months,  when  early  one  morning,  attended  by 
his  pets,  the  sea-gulls,  he  mounted  the  high  cliff  on  which  he 
had  erected  his  flagstaff.  He  looked  abroad  to  see  if  any 
vessel  was  in  the  offing ;  but  he  had  been  so  often  disap 
pointed,  that  he  did  this  more  through  habit  than  with  the 
expectation  of  seeing  a  ship  approaching  the  island.  As  he 
looked  towards  the  north-west,  he  fancied  he  saw  a  dark  spot 
afar  off.  He  rubbed  his  e}^es  and  looked  again.  It  was  no 
deceptive  vision.  The  object,  whatever  it  might  be,  was  still 
there.  It  was  not  long  before,  to  his  great  delight,  he  made 
it  out  to  be  a  ship,  for  the  sun  had  now  risen,  and  he  could 
distinguish  the  sails. 

The  ship  appeared  to  increase  in  size,  and  her  outlines 
became  every  moment  more  distinct,  a  convincing  proof  that 
she  was  coming  towards  the  island.  With  great  glee  Mark 
fastened  his  old  jacket  to  the  top  of  the  flag-pole  as  a  signal 
of  distress.  Then  seated  himself  on  the  rock,  with  his  birds 
resting  on  his  shoulders,  and  awaited,  with  mingled  expec 
tation,  anxiety,  and  joy,  the  result. 

The  breeze  was  moderate,  and  the  ship  slowly  approached, 
but  gave  no  indications  of  changing  her  course.  If  she  kept 
on,  she  would  pass  the  island  within  less  than  a  league,  and 
at  that  distance  not  only  the  signal,  but  the  flagstaff,  and 
even  Mark  himself,  could  be  seen  from  the  decks  without  a 
spy-glass. 

Mark  felt  that  the  crisis  of  his  fate  was  at  hand  ;  that  if 
this  ship  passed  by  without  noticing  his  signal,  as  others  had 
done,  he  could  no  longer  cherish  any  hope,  and  that  his 
skeleton  would  soon  be  bleaching  on  the  rocks. 

But  Mark  was  not  doomed  to  suffer  again  the  pangs  of 
disappointment,  and  his  suspense  was  not  of  great  duration  ; 
for,  long  before  he  supposed  the  stranger  was  near  enough  to 
make  out  his  signal,  he  beheld,  to  his  inexpressible  delight, 
the  broad  American  ensign  leave  the  quarter-deck  of  the  ship, 


OCEAN   DEITIES.  97 

and  after  fluttering  a  moment  in  the  air,  wave  gracefully 
from  the  spanker  peak. 

His  signal  was  seen.  His  signal  was  answered.  He  knew 
that  in  a  few  hours,  at  most,  he  would  escape  from  his  long 
imprisonment  on  a  desert  island,  and  again  enjoy  the  bless 
ings  of  social  intercourse  with  friends  and  countrymen.  With 
heartfelt  gratitude  he  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  offered  his 
fervent  thanks  to  the  Almighty. 

The  ship  which  Mark  saw  was  the  Rosamond,  of-  Boston, 
bound  from  New  York  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The 
captain,  whose  name  was  Lamark,  was  a  thorough  seaman, 
a  skilful  navigator,  and  an  honest  man.  He  knew  that  a 
current  had  set  him  to  the  westward,  and  that  he  must  be 
near  the  meridian  of  St  Paul.  The  wind  having  hauled  far 
to  the  north,  he  was  steering  a  south-east  course,  and  had 
ordered  a  good  lookout  to  be  kept  as  the  ship  drew  near  the 
latitude  of  the  island ;  and  just  as  the  sun  was  making  its 
appearance  in  the  east,  the  craggy  rocks  of  St.  Paul  were 
plainly  seen  from  the  fore  top-mast  head. 

As  there  were  no  dangerous  rocks  or  shoals  in  the  vicin^ 
ity,  and  as  the  island  lay  directly  in  his  course,  Captain 
Lamark  determined  to  pass  as  near  to  it  as  he  could  do  with 
safety,  for  the  purpose  of  gratifying  his  curiosity.  As  the 
ship  approached  the  land,  the  captain  was  surprised  to  see 
with  his  spy-glass  a  pole  on  the  highest  point,  with  a  flag  fly 
ing.  He  divined  the  meaning  of  the  signal  at  once  ;  he  knew 
that  there  must  be  some  poor  shipwrecked  sailors  on  that 
desolate  spot,  and  he  ordered  the  American  ensign  to  be 
hoisted  immediately,  to  assure  them  that  help  was  at  hand, 
and  the  quarter-boat  to  be  got  in  readiness  for  an  expedition 
to  the  shore.  The  Rosamond  passed  along  the  eastern  or 
windward  side  of  the  island,  and  when  about  a  mile  off,  the 
ship  was  hove-to,  the  boat  was  lowered,  and  Captain  Lamark 
ordered  Mr.  Hawkins,  the  second  officer,  to  go  to  the  lee- 


98  MARK  EOWLANP. 

side  of  the  island,  land  there  if  it  were  possible,  and  bring 
off  any  person  or  persons  whom  he  might  find  there  in  dis 
tress. 

As  Mr.  Hawkins  approached  the  shore,  he,  was  greeted 
with  shouts  of  welcome  by  the  half-naked,  pale,  and  ema 
ciated  Mark  Rowland,  who  hastened  to  the  water's  edge, 
almost  crazy  with  joy.  Mr.  Hawkins  landed  with  some 
difficulty,  and  after  asking  a  few  questions  of  the  wild  and 
half-starved  looking  being,  the  only  human  inhabitant  of  the 
island,  and  after  giving  his  hand  a  hearty  grip  to  assure  him 
of  his  protection,  ordered  the  men  to  gather  some  eggs,  which 
were  abundant  in  that  neighborhood,  while  he  assisted  Mark 
in  placing  his  prize,  the  bag  of  golden  coins,  in  the  boat. 
Mark  then  jumped  in,  accompanied  by  his  interesting  com 
panions  of  long  standing  ;  the  sailors  followed,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  deserted  cabin-boy  and  his  treasure  and  his  dar 
ling  friends,  the  birds,  were  safe  on  board  the  good  ship  Rosa 
mond.  Orders  were  given  to  "  fill  away,"  and  the  ship 
dashed  merrily  along  towards  her  destined  port. 

Mark  was  received  in  the  kindest  manner  by  Captain  La- 
mark,  who  welcomed  him  on  board  the  Rosamond,  listened 
to  his  story  with  much  interest,  and  promised  to  take  good 
care  of  him  and  his  treasure.  He  took  him  into  the  cabin, 
and  caused  a  good  meal  to  be  placed  before  him,  to  which 
Mark  did  ample  justice.  He  supplied  Mark  with  clothes 
from  his  own  trunk,  which,  although  much  too  large  for  him 
in  his  present  condition,  after  a  few  reefs  had  been  taken  in 
them,  answered  the  purpose  passably  well.  He  furnished 
Mark  with  a  berth,  or  sleeping-place,  in  the  steerage,  and 
learned  from  his  lips  the  particulars  of  his  short,  but  humble 
and  eventful  life. 

When  Mark  had  concluded  his  narrative,  the  worthy  cap 
tain  again  shook  his  hand,  and  told  him  his  troubles  were 
over,  that  the  ship  Rosamond  was  bound  to  the  Cape  of 


OCEAN    DEITIES.  99 

Good  Hope,  and  back  to  a  port  in  the  United  States,  proba 
bly  to  Boston,  and  that  if  he  did  not  fall  in  with  a  ship  from 
the  East  India  seas^  bound  home,  to  which  vessel  Mark -could 
be  transferred,  if  he  wished,  he  might  safely  calculate  to  be 
landed  in  Boston  in  four  months  or  four  months  and  a  half, 
at  farthest,  and  could  then  start  off  without  a  moment's  de 
lay  to  his  home,  where  his  presence  would  shed  plenty  and 
joy  over  his  mother's  hearth.  "  And  I  will  pledge  my  word," 
said  Captain  Lamark,  with  emphasis,  "  that  you  shall  not 
again  be  left  on  a  desert  island,  to  subsist  for  months  on 
raw  eggs  and  scallops,  taming  sea-gulls,  tormenting  sharks, 
and  hunting  for  hidden  treasures." 

Mark  slept  soundly  the  night  following  his  rescue  from 
the  island,  and,  accustomed  to  early  rising,  was  on  deck 
soon  after  sunrise,  enjoying  through  every  nerve  and  fibre 
of  his  frame,  his  changed  condition.  He  found  Captain 
Lamark  on  deck,  talking  earnestly  with  the  first  officer,  Mr. 
Digges.  He  learned  from  their  conversation  that  the  ship, 
having  run  about  sixty  miles  since  leaving  St.  Paul,  was 
now  on  the  equator,  and  that  the  time-hallowed  custom  of 
shaving  those  who  had  never  crossed  the  line,  and  introduc 
ing  them  to  Old  Neptune  and  his  wife,  was  to  be  observed 
on  board  the  Rosamond. 

Mark  had  heard  the  crew  of  the  Saladin  discuss  this  sub 
ject,  and  his  curiosity  was  excited ;  and  being  assured  that, 
in  consequence  of  his  delicate  health  and  long  residence 
within  a  degree  of  the  equator,  Old  Neptune  would  have 
little  or  nothing  to  say  to  him,  he  rejoiced  that  the  mystic 
ceremonies  were  going  to  take  place,  and  manifested  much 
interest  in  the  proceedings,  which  proved  to  be  a  regular 
frolic,  and  a  series  of  practical  and  coarse  jokes  at  the  ex 
pense  of  the  poor  fellows  who  had  never  been  south  of  the 
equator. 

Immediately  after  breakfast,  Mr.  Hawkins,  the  second 


100  MARK   ROWLAND. 

mate,  a  regular  case-hardened  old  sailor,  who  had  followed 
the  sea  for  thirty  years,  and  had  never  risen  to  the  dignity 
of  first  officer,  went  aloft,  and  was  soon  heard  to  hail,  "  On 
deck  there ! " 

"  Hallo !  "  responded  the  captain ;   "  what's  adrift  now? " 

"  I  see  a  sail-boat,  sir,  a  long  way  off,  steering  directly  for 
the  ship ! " 

"  Ah  I"  exclaimed  Captain  Lamark,  "I  thought  it  was 
about  time.  That  must  be  Old  Neptune !  How  many  are 
there  in  the  boat  ?  " 

"  Three  persons,  as  well  as  I  can  make  out." 

"  Aye,"  said  the  skipper,  "  Old  Neptune  and  his  wife,  and 
the  barber !  Come  down,  Mr.  Hawkins,  we  must  prepare  to 
receive  them  with  all  due  honor  and  respect." 

Among  the  ship's  company,  consisting  of  fifteen  persons, 
it  was  found  on  investigation  that  three  had  never  crossed 
the  equinoctial  line^  and  were  of  course  entitled  to  the  partic 
ular  attentions  Of  Old  Neptune.  These  three  ^unfortunate 
men  were  sent  by  Mr.  Hawkins  into  the  half-deck,  when  the 
hatch-way  was  closed,  and  they  were  imprisoned  until  prep 
arations  were  made  for  their  introduction  to  the  Monarch  of 
the  Seas. 

It  was  determined  that  Mr  Hawkins  should  personate  Nep 
tune.  He  was  to  appear  in  full  costume.  His  grim  features 
were  made  to  look  more  grim,  by  liberal  dashes  of  the  paint 
brush,  dipped  in  blue,  red,  and  white  colors.  His  head  was 
covered  by  a  huge  mass  of  gulf-weed,  ingeniously  arranged 
to  represent  a  crown,  although,  as  it  hung  down  in  festoons 
about  his  ears  and  neck,  it  bore  a  nearer  resemblance  to  an 
enormous  wig.  His  chest  and  brawny  arms  were  bare,  but 
covered  with  blotches  of  paint  of  diverse  hues.  His  only 
garment  was  a  tunic,  hastily  manufactured  for  the  occasion 
out  of  the  ship's  private  signal,  a  square  flag,  half  blue  and 
half  red.  A  slit  was  cut  in  the  centre,  the  head  was  thrust 


OCEAN   DEITIES.  101 

through,  and  the  garment,  in  the  style  of  apowc/io,  was  com 
plete.  In  one  hand  he  held  a  short  speaking-trumpet ;  in  the 
other  a  three-pronged  grainse  ;  and  assuming  a  majestic  atti 
tude,  made  a  truly  imposing  appearance,  and  was  believed 
by  his  shipmates  to  be  a  capital  likeness  of  the  Ocean  King. 

His  wife  Amphitrite  was  personated  by  a  jolly  little  tar, 
named  Archie  Stobbs.  His  face  was  also  painted,  but  in  a 
style  intended  to  give  him  a  gentle  and  feminine  appearance, 
which  was  done  by  painting  his  cheeks  and  the  tip  of  his 
nose  of  a  lively  red,  his  eyebrows  black,  and  the  rest  of  his 
face  a  clear  white.  A  small,  delicate  moustache,  created  by 
drawing  the  black  paint-brush  across  the  upper  lip,  added  to 
the  piquancy  and  character  of  the  features.  His  head  was 
profusely  decked  with  gulf-weed,  ingeniously  twisted  into 
curls  and  ringlets,  which  fell  gracefully  upon  the  shoulders, 
and,  reaching  to  the  waist,  were  met  by  a  nondescript  gar 
ment,  considered  appropriate  for  the  occasion,  and  made  out 
of  a  calico  counterpane  which  rejoiced  in  all  the  colors  of  the 
rainbow,  and  was  indeed  a  great  curiosity,  belonging  to  Cap 
tain  Lamark,  and  a  present  from  his  grandmother.  Clad 
in  this  costume,  little  Archie  looked  and  strutted  every  inch 
a  queen. 

The  barber  who  attended  on  their  majesties  was  also 
quaintly  arrayed.  He  held  in  one  hand  a  tar-bucket,  half- 
filled  with  the  odoriferous  fluid  diluted  with  oil,  and  a  tar 
brush.  In  the  other  he  flourished  his  razor  in  the  guise  of 
a  piece  of  iron  hoop,  with  notches  at  intervals,  to  produce  a 
more  decided  effect. 

While  these  principal  actors  in  the  drama  about  to  be  per 
formed  were  getting  ready  to  enter  on  the  scene,  the  remain 
der  of  the  crew,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Digges,  were 
engaged  in  drawing  water  and  pouring  it  into  the  long-boat ; 
and  on  the  bow  of  the  boat  a  platform  was  erected  as  a 
throne  for  the  Ocean  Deities. 


102  MAKK  ROWLAND. 

"When  the  arrangements  were  completed,  which  occupied 
fully  an  hour,  the  three  men,  who,  in  a  state  of  unpleasant 
suspense,  were  confined  in  the  half-deck,  listened  with  much 
interest  to  the  following  dialogue,  intended  for  their  ears, 
carried  on  with  speaking  trumpets  between  old  Neptune,  who 
was  on  the  bowsprit,  and  Captain  Lamark,  standing  on  the 
quarter-deck. 

"  Ship  ahoy !  " 

"Hallo!"  f 

"  "Where  are  you  from ! " 

"  New  York." 

"Where  bound?" 

"  Cape  of  Good  Hope." 

"  Have  you  any  strangers  on  board?" 

"  Ay,  ay !  three  fine  fellows,  who  are  longing  to  pay  their 
respects  to  you/' 

"  All  right !  "  said  old  Neptune.  "  I'll  step  over  the  gang 
way  and  shave  them  directly." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  hatchway  was  opened,  and  the  pris 
oners  were  gravely  told  that  Neptune  was  on  board,  and  one 
of  their  number  must  come  on  deck  and  be  introduced  to 
him  and  his  wife. 

Harry  Linsay,  a  lively  young  fellow,  who  had  been  only 
one  voyage  to  sea,  and  was  eager  to  be  first  on  the  list,  that 
he  might  enjoy  the  subsequent  sport,  was  carefully  blind 
folded,  and  led  on  deck.  He  was  made  to  ascend  to  the 
gunwale  of  the  long-boat  by  the  help  of  the  gangway  lad 
der,  and  then  seated  on  a  plank,  fronting  their  majesties, 
with  his  feet  and  legs  immersed  in  water. 

Neptune  asked  the  new  proselyte  various  questions,  in  a 
thundering  voice  through  his  speaking-trumpet,  in  relation 
to  his  birthplace,  age,  habits,  &c.,  the  answers  to  which  were 
'to  be  placed  on  record.  He  then  ordered  the  barber  to  do 
his  duty.  The  lower  part  of  the  poor  fellow's  face  and  his 


OCEAN    DEITIES.  103 

chin  were  soon  thickly  covered  with  the  unsavory  lather ; 
and  while  the  operations  were  going  on,  sundry  questions 
were  asked  by  the  inquisitive  potentate,  and  when  his  mouth 
was  opened  to  reply,  the  waggish  barber  popped  in  the  tar 
brush,  to  Linsay' s  great  annoyance  and  disgust.  The  razor 
was  drawn  over  his  chin  in  a  very  careless  manner,  and  the 
process  of  being  shaved  was  completed.  And  now  some  of 
the  crew  who  were  standing  round  with  buckets  and  pots  full 
of  salt  water,  poured  it  upon  his  devoted  head,  or  dashed  it 
in  his  face  as  a  purifying  rite. 

But  the  bandage  was  not  yet  taken  off.  Old  Neptune  con 
tinued  to  ask  Linsay  a  number  of  questions,  and  the  ques 
tions  and  replies  were  of  a  nature  to  elicit  shouts  of  laugh 
ter  from  the  sailors.  A  speaking-trumpet  was  given  him 
through  which  to  make  his  responses,  under  pretense  that 
the  king  was  hard  of  hearing,  and  he  was  also  instructed  to 
open  his  mouth  wide  and  halloo  with  all  liis  might.  But  his 
mouth  was  no  sooner  stretched  to  its  utmost  capacity,  than 
a  bucket  of  salt  water  -was  emptied  into  the  mouth  of  the 
trumpet,  which  conducted  it  down  his  throat,  almost  suffo 
cating  the  unfortunate  tyro,  while  the  mirth  of  the  lookers-on 
waxed  fast  and  furious. 

Linsay  was  then  required  by  Old  Neptune  to  promise  on 
his  sacred  honor  that  he  would  never  eat  hard  bread  when  he 
could  get  soft,  unless  he  liked  hard  bread  best5;  that  he 
would  never  go  on  foot  when  he  could  ride,  unless  he  pre 
ferred  to  walk ;  that  he  would  never  stay  on  shore  when  he 
could  go  to  sea,  unless  he  liked  land  better  than  water ;  and 
that  he  would  kill  a  shark  whenever  he  could  meet  one, 
unless  the  shark  killed  him  first. 

Linsay  having  complied  with  these  requisitions,  Old  Nep 
tune  cried  out  in  a  tone  of  authority,  "  Give  him  the  finish 
ing  touch ! " 

The  plank  on  which  he  was  seated  was  instantly  knocked 


104  MARK   ROWLAND. 

away,  and  he  tumbled  heels  over  head  into  the  water,  uttering 
a  scream,  under  the  impression  that  he  was  overboard.  At 
this  moment  the  bandage  which  covered  his  e3Tes  was  twitched 
off,  and  he  recovered  the  full  use  of  his  senses  and  his  legs, 
and  looking  up  saw  Old  Neptune  seated  on  his  throne,  with 
his  wife  beside  him,  holding  their  sides  while  indulging  in 
peals  of  undignified  laughter,  and  the  rest  of  his  shipmates 
standing  around,  heartily  joined  in  the  chorus. 

The  same  ceremonies  were  observed  in  the  case  of  the 
other  individuals  who  had  never  crossed  the  line.  The  frolic 
lasted  for  some  hours,  when  Neptune  laid  aside  his  emblems 
of  authority,  and  order  and  discipline,  which  had  been  for  the 
time  not  a  little  relaxed,  again  reigned  on  board  the  Rosa 
mond. 

Such  scenes  occasionally  tend  to  break  the  monotony 
which  always  prevails  on  shipboard  during  the  long  passage 
across  the  tropics  and  around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  or 
Cape  Horn,  and  if  judiciously  managed  produce  a  good  effect 
on  the  spirits  of  the  crew.  But  care  should  be  taken  that 
the  authority  of  the  officers,  and  the  strength  of  the  "  one 
man  power,"  which  is  absolutely  necessary  in  sailing  a  ship, 
are  not  weakened  thereby.  It  should  also  be  recollected  that 
although  it  may  be  sport  to  those  who  have  already  crossed 
the  equator,  it  is  no  sport  to  those  who  are  subjected  to  such 
humiliation,  insult,  and  sometimes  abuse. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CATCHING  A   MERMAID. 

ON  the  evening  after  the  ship  Rosamond  crossed  the  equi 
noctial  line,  there  was  an  animated  conversation  among  the 
ship's  company  connected  with  the  subjects  of  the  clay. 

"  Old  Neptune's  idea  of  shaving  a  new-comer,  and  sousing 
him  in  salt  water  afterwards,"  said  little  Bob  Randy,  "  is  a 
good  one,  and  makes  fun  for  all  hands.  It  used  to  be  man 
aged  more  roughly  before  sailors  became  civilized,  and  woe 
to  the  man  who  refused  to  submit  to  the  whims  of  Old  Nep 
tune.  Indeed,  I  have  heard  old  sailors  say  that  in  some 
ships  keel-hauling  was  resorted  to  when  a  fellow  was  foolishly 
obstinate,  and  refused  to  '  come  and  be  shaved,'  when  about 
to  cross  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  the  equinoctial  line." 

"Keel-hauling?  What's  that?"  exclaimed  Harry  Lin- 
say. 

"  Oh,  a  very  simple  operation  to  take  the  kinks  out  of  a 
fellow,"  replied  Bob  Randy.  "  It  consists  in  merely  making 
fast  the  bight  of  a  rope  to  a  man's  body  just  under  the  arm 
pits,  and  passing  it  under  the  ship's  bottom  to  the  other  side 
of  the  deck.  Then  toss  him  overboard,  lowering  him  grad 
ually  with  one  part  of  the  rope,  while  half  a  dozen  men,  more 
or  less,  bowse  away  at  the  other.  He  is  thus  hauled  beneath 
the  keel  from  one  side  of  the  ship  to  the  other ;  and  by  the 
time  he  is  roused  on  deck,  he  withdraws  all  objections  to  be 
ing  shaved,  is  docile  as  a  floander,  and  obeys  orders  with 
out  grumbling." 

105 


106  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"  I  should  think  so ! "  remarked  Harry  Linsay,  with  a 
shudder. 

"  But  the  work  must  be  done  at  once,  and  with  a  will," 
continued  Bob  Bandy,  u  or  I  would  not  give  a  rope-yarn  for 
the  man's  life.  Suppose  he  should  get  foul  of  the  keel,  and 
stick  there  for  a  while?  That  might  prove  a  left-handed 
joke."  . 

"  True  as  a  book,  Bob,"  exclaimed  Jack  Radkin,  a  smoke- 
dried  old  salt,  who  had  served  for  years  on  board  an  English 
man-of-war,  and  was  strongly  suspected  of  being  a  subject 
of  John  Bull,  notwithstanding  his  American  protection. 
"  But  he  must  take  his  chance ;  and  if  he  does  not  sprawl 
about  while  under  the  ship's  bottom,  and  is  careful  to  keep 
his  legs  and  arms  snug  and  quiet,  he  will  suffer  but  little 
inconvenience.  To  make  all  safe,  however,  it  would  be  well 
to  fasten  a  twelve-pound  shot  to  his  feet,  which  will  sink  him 
clear  of  the  keel,  and  then  the  work  can  be  done  shipshape, 
and  finished  off  in  a  jiffey." 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  were  an  old  hand  at  the  business," 
said  Bob  Randy.  "  How  is  it,  Jack  ?  " 

"  I  saw  a  miserable  scoundrel  keel-hauled  once,"  said 
Jack,  "  and  was  obliged  to  lend  a  hand,  and  a  bungling  piece 
of  work  we  made  of  it.  I  could  do  the  job  better  now ;  but 
hope  I  shall  never  be  called  on  to  test  my  skill." 

"Amen  to  that,  with  all  my  heart!"  said  Bob.  "But 
how  happened  you  to  be  inveigled  into  such  a  scrape  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it  happened  when  I  was  a  boy,  more  than  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  before  I  left  the  old  country.  I  was  an  ap 
prentice  on  board  the  barque  Marlborough,  of  Bristol,  Cap 
tain  Rockstone,  on  a  voyage  from  Bristol  to  Barbadoes. 
rThe  captain  was  a  kind-hearted,  indulgent  man,  and  was 
greatly  liked  by  the  sailors.  On  the  passage  home,  the 
steward,  who  was  a  Lascar  from  Calcutta,  was  shamefully 
neglectful  of  his  duties,  and  when  reminded  of  it  by  the  cap- 


CATCHING  A   MERMAID.  107 

tain,  used  insolent  and  mutinous  language,  for  which  Cap 
tain  Rockstone  gently  touched  him  up  with  a  rope's  end. 
The  fellow  swore  revenge,  and  kept  his  oath. 

"  On  the  following  night,  while  the  captain  was  sleeping 
in  his  state-room,  and  Mr.  Bolan,  the  first  mate,  was  attend 
ing  to  his  duties  on  deck,  the  steward  stealthily  approached 
the  captain's  berth,  and  with  a  carving-knife  stabbed  him  to 
the  heart.  The  unfortunate  man  could  only  cry  out,  c  Help, 
help  !  Mr.  Stanchell !  The  villain  has  murdered  me  ! '  when 
he  breathed  his  last. 

"  Mr.  Stanchell,  the  second  mate,  hearing  the  cry,  leaped 
from  his  berth,  and  grappled  with  the  steward,  who,  dealing 
him  a  severe  wound  with  the  same  weapon,  escaped  on  deck. 
But  the  hue  and  cry  was  raised,  and  in  less  than  a  minute 
every  man  on  board  knew  that  the  captain  was  murdered  by 
the  steward !  The  assassin  was  seized,  and  by  order  of  the 
chief  mate,  who  now  assumed  command  of  -the  ship,  mana 
cled,  and  lashed  firmly  to  an  eyebolt  in  the  half-deck. 

"  A  consultation,  a  sort  of  council  of  war,  was  now  held 
on  the  forecastle  by  the  men,  who  loved  the  captain,  hated 
the  assassin,  and  were'  greatly  shocked  at  the  bloody  act. 
After  a  short  discussion,  it  was  agreed  to  by  all  hands,  that 
the  steward  had  broken  the  laws  of  God  and  man,  had  com 
mitted  a  murder,  and  deserved  severe  punishment,  and  as 
the  laws  on  land  were  slow  in  their  operation  and  uncertain, 
it  was  our  duty  to  take  the  matter  into  our  own  hands,  and 
make  sure  that  he  got  his  deserts.  *•  % 

"  Then  the  question  arose,  how  should  we  punish  him  ?  One 
was  in  favor  of  hanging  him  at  the  yard-arm ;  another  thought 
we  should  strip  off  his  shirt,  tie  him  to  the  main-rigging,  and 
flog  him  with  a  two-inch  rope  until  he  could  neither  speak 
nor  wink ;  while  more  than  one  thought  the  best  course  would 
be  to  fasten  the  grindstone  to  his  neck,  and  throw  him  over 
board.  There  was  quite  a  difference  of  opinion  on  the  sub- 


108  MAEK  ROWLAND. 

ject,  until  one  of  the  men  suggested  keel-hauling  as  a  pun 
ishment  just  suited  to  the  crime.  The  suggestion  was 
received  with  universal  favor,  and  it  was  decided,  as  with 
one  voice,  that  keel-hauling  it  should  be. 

"  Preparations  were  immediately  made  for  cany  ing  out  the 
sentence.  Mr.  Bolan,  the  chief  mate,  was  at  that  moment 
below,  looking  after  the  comfort  of  Mr.  Stanchell,  who  had 
been  badly  cut  with  the  assassin's  knife.  The  doors  of  the 
companion-way  were  closed,  and  the  cabin  skylight  put  on 
-and  secured, -to  prevent  the  mate  from  coming  on  deck  and 
being  a  witness  to  the  scene  about  to  be  acted.  And  for  a 
similar  reason  the  cook  was  confined  in  the  forecastle  by 
fastening  the  forescuttle.  We  now  had  a  clear  deck ;  the  ship 
was  hove-to,  the  lashings  which  confined  the  murderer  to  the 
half-deck  were  cut,  and  he  was  hauled  up  the  ladder  and 
brought  forward  to  the  waist.  When  told  of  the  punishment 
in  store  for  him,  he  was  dreadfully  agitated,  and  begged  for 
mercy.  He  soon  found  that  that  was  out  of  the  question, 
and  entreated  to  be  killed  on  the  spot,  a  favor  which  was  not 
granted. 

"  The  rope  was  passed  under  the  ship's  bottom,  and  fast 
ened  around  his  body,  and,  in  spite  of  his  struggles  and  prayers 
for  mercy,  he  was  thrown  overboard  to  windward.  Two  of  the 
sailors  were  appointed  to  '  ease  him  away  handsomely/  and 
all  the  others  were  required  to  lay  hold  of  the  rope  which  was 
to  drag  him  under  the  keel,  and  up  the  ship's  side  to  leeward. 
It  happened,  unfortunately  for  the  steward, 'that  we  pulled 
too  hard,  or  the  others  did  not  lower  away  fast  enough,  for 
the  rascal  scraped  the  ship's  bottom,  and  caused  a  long 
delay  by  sticking  to  the  keel.  After  jerking  the  rope,  then 
slacking  it,  and  trying  various  experiments,  we  got  him  clear, 
and  hauled  him  in  on  deck  in  triumph.  We  had  succeeded  in 
keelhauling  him,  but  he  was  dead  when  we  landed  him  on 
deck." 


CATCHING  A   MERMAID.  109 

"Dead?"  exclaimed  Harry  Linsay.  "Did  you  say  the 
man  was  dead  ?  "  t 

"  Dead  as  a  dried  ling,"  replied  Jack  Radkin.  "  His  face 
was  badly  mangled,  and  one"  of  his  arms  was  broken  —  in 
deed  it  was  nearly  pulled  from  the  socket.  Besides,  he  was 
so  long  in  the  water  that  even  a  grampus  could  not  have 
stood  it  without  coming  up  to  blow." 

"  And  what  was  the  consequence  of  such  an  outrageous 
act  ?  Why  were  you  not  all  hanged  for  murder,  as  you  de 
served  to  be  ?  "  said  Harry  Linsay. 

"  Not  so  fast,  young  man.  Our  motives  were  good.  Our 
object  was  to  do  justice,  and  dodge  the  law's  delay.  Be 
sides,  we  did  not  mean  to  drown  the  fellow  entirely ;  but 
only  to  give  him  a  foretaste  of  what  was  coming.  Jt  was 
rather  a  hard  case  for  him,  and  it  might  have  gone  hard  with 
us,  if  the  matter  had  ever  been  found  out." 

"  No  doubt  of  that,  Jack ;  but  how  did  you  get  out  of  the 
scrape  ?  "  asked  Bob  Randy. 

"  Why,  when  the  business  was  over,  and  the  body  of  the 
bloody-minded  Lascar  a  couple  of  miles  astern,  the  com 
panion-way  was  opened,  and  Mr.  Bolan  was  told  that  the 
steward  had  by  some  unknown  means  got  loose  from  his 
lashings  in  the  half-deck,  had  rushed  up  the  ladder,  forced 
aside  the  booby-hatch,  shaken  off  the  men  who  tried  to  se- 
sure  him,  and  jumped  overboard.  This  story  was  recorded 
in  the  log-book,  and  I  suppose  everybody  believed  it,  of 
course,  and  asked  no  questions.  But  I  know  nothing  about 
that,  for  I  was  impressed  on  board  an  English  man-of-war, 
just  as  we  made  the  Land's  End,  the  lieutenant  who  boarded 
us  having  taken  a  fancy  to  the  cut  of  my  jib,  declaring  that 
I  was  just  the  chap  to  wait  on  the  ward-room. mess." 

Further  discussion  was  prevented  by  the  loud  call  of  the 

officer  on  deck,  who  shouted,  "  Eight  bells !   Call  the  watch ! " 
10 


110  •        MARK  ROWLAND. 

and  the  group  of  listeners  to  Jack  Radkin's  story  was  scat 
tered  as  if  a  bomb-shell  had  fallen  in  the  midst  of  it. 

Mark  Rowland's  sufferings  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  his 
prepossessing  countenance,  and  his  modest  demeanor,  and 
perhaps  the  fact  that  he  was  possessed  of  a  goodly  amount  of 
riches,  which,  however  acquired,  in  the  eyes  of  short-sighted 
mortals,  is  apt  to  add  to  a  man's  respectability,  gained  him 
the  favor  of  Captain  Lamark  and  his  officers.  He  messed  in 
the  cabin,  and  the  kind  treatment  he  received,  and  generous 
living,  did  wonders.  In  a  week  or  ten  days,  he  in  a  great 
measure  recovered  from  the  shock  which  his  health  and 
constitution  had  met  with  in  consequence  of  exposures  and 
hard  fare  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul.  He  felt  able  as  well  as 
willing^  to  work,  and  readily  lent  a  hand  to  pull  and  haul, 
make  and  take  in  sail,  or  do  any  other  similar  duty. 

Mark  volunteered  to  join  Mr.  Hawkins's  watch,  for  he  felt 
deeply  attached  to  that  veteran  sailor,  who  was  the  first  per 
son  to  take  him  by  ^he  hand,  and  give  him  words  of  comfort, 
after  his  long  sojourn  on  the  island.  Mr.  Hawkins,  on  his 
part,  took  a  decided  liking  to  Mark,  and  during  the  remain 
der  of  the  voyage  treated  him  with  much  kindness,  seemed 
to  regard  him  as  a  companion,  answered  all  his  questions, 
and  in  the  long  watches  of  the  night  related  many  incidents, 
and  described  scenes  he  had  met  with  in  the  course  of  his 
eventful  life,  that  gave  Mark  a  deep  insight  into  the  mys 
teries  of  a  sailor's  occupation. 

A  few  days  after  Mark  Rowland  had  been  on  board  the 
Rosamond,  he  described  to  Mr.  Hawkins  his  plan  of  con 
structing  a  bathing-place  in  the  island  in  order  to  avoid  the 
sharks,  and  how  it  came  to  pass  that  some  impertinent  and 
ill-favored  animals  had  invaded  his  domains,  taken  posses 
sion  of  his  pond,  and  deprived  him  of  his  daily  recreation. 
He  minutely  described  their  appearance,  and  added  that  he 
doubted  not  they  were  formidable  and  ferocious  animals, 


CATCHING  A  MERMAID.  Ill 

half  fish  and  half  flesh ;  perhaps  they  were  mermen  or  mer 
maids,  and  he  congratulated  himself  on  having  escaped  their 
clutches. 

Mr.  Hawkins  indulged  in  a  hearty  laugh.  "  Why,"  said 
he,  "they  were  only  seals,  an  inoffensive  animal,  which 
would  not  harm  an  infant.  With  a  small  club  you  might 
have  defended  yourself  against  an  army  of  them,  if  they 
could  have  mustered  courage  enough  to  attack  you.  In  the 
South  Sea  Islands,  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  them  lying  on 
the  rocks  all  dead  or  senseless,  and  ready  to  have  their  jack 
ets  stripped  off,  and  their  blubber  put  into  the  trying-pot, 
having  been  knocked  on  the  head  by  a  couple  of  sailors 
equipped  for  the  work." 

"  But  what  business  had  they  in  my  pond?"  said  Mark. 
"  After  I  had  fenced  out  the  sharks,  and  put  it  in  excellent 
order  for  a  bathing-place,  it  was  an  act  of  unparalleled  im 
pudence  on  their  part  to  appropriate  it  to  themselves  with 
so  little  ceremony,  and  try  to  frighten  me  away  by  defiant 
looks." 

"  They  were  probably  wanderers  in  search  of  a  resting- 
place,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hawkins,  "  having  been  driven  from 
their  homes  in  a  much  higher  latitude,  —  for  seals  are  seldom 
seen  in  the  torrid  zone,  —  or  perhaps  adventurers  in  quest  of 
some  new  and  unexplored  region,  with  a  view  to  found  a  col 
ony.  They  may  have  b'een  cruising  round  the  island  for 
some  time  before  you  were  frightened  by  their  ugly  faces, 
and  having  discovered  your  cozy  little  pond,  which,  I  dare 
say,  was  well  stocked  with  fishes  of  various  kinds,  congrat 
ulated  themselves  on  having  realized  -a  seal's  idea  of  a  Par 
adise  on  earth." 

"  If  that's  the  case,"  said  Mark,  "  it  would  have  been  a 
pity  to  disturb  them,  and  they  are  heartily  welcome  to  the 
pond.  I  shall  never  put  in  a  claim  for  it  hereafter.  I  hope 


112  MAKE  ROWLAND. 

they  will  long  keep  possession,  and  much  good  may  it  do 
them ! " 

"  Spoken  like  a.  Christian,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins,  "  to  which 
I  say  amen.  Man  has  much  to  answer  for  in  searching  out 
their  haunts  in  the  most  remote  parts  of  the  globe,  and  de 
stroying  millions  of  these  harmless  and  interesting  crea 
tures,  merely  for  their  furs  and  oil.  You  made  a  great 
mistake  in  supposing  they  were  mermen  or  mermaids,  which 
are  a  very  different  order  of  beings.  It  was  lucky  you  did 
not  fall  in  with  those  strange  creatures  on  that  island." 

"  Why  so? "  inquired  Mark. 

"  Because,  if  all  tales  be  true,  they  are  a  treacherous  and 
ungrateful  race,  hating  mankind,  and  never  so  well  pleased 
as  when  doing  a  sailor  or  a  fisherman  an  ill  turn." 

"  What  kind  of  looking  beasts  are  they  ?  "  said  Mark. 

"  Their  features  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  those  of  hu 
man  beings,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins.  "  But  the  noses  of  the 
mermen  have  a  curious  twist  to  starboard.  Their  eyes  are 
small,  and  they  all  squint,  as  if  they  were  trying  to  look 
half  a  dozen  ways  at  once,  and  their  beards,  of  coarse  text 
ure  and  of  a  sea-green  hue,  reach  to  the  waist.  Their 
appearance,  on  the  whole,  is  not  prepossessing." 

"  So  I  should  suppose,"  said  Mark,  with  a  smile. 

"The  mermen,"  continued  Mr.  Hawkins,  "probably  be-^ 
cause  their  appearance  is  so  very  repulsive,  seldom  show 
themselves  ;  but  they  may  not  be  so  bad  as  their  looks  indi 
cate,  after  all.  The  worst  rogues  are  often  good-looking, 
while  an  honest  man  may  wear  an  ugly  phiz.  Old  Captain 
Lugner,  whom  I  sailed  with  once  in  the  ship  Nonesuch,  said 
that,  on  a  passage  to  Batavia,  he  came  in  sight  of  the  Mar 
tin  Vas  Rocks  in  the  South  Atlantic,  when  a  merman  swam 
off  from  the  rocks,  and  after  a  great  exertion,  climbed  up  the 
ship's  side,  to  the  great  consternation  of  the  captain,  mates, 
and  all  hands.  On  passing  over  the  gangway,  he  made  a 


CATCHING  A   MERMAID.  113 

polite  bow,  and  inquired  for  the  captain,  who  was  pointed 
out  to  him  by  the  boatswain,  an  old  cross-grained  man-of- 
war's  man,  who  feared  nothing  in  the  shape  of  man  or 
monster. 

uThe  merman  saluted  the  captain  respectfully,  and  remov 
ing  a  bunch  of  seaweed  from  his  starboard  flipper,  showed  an 
ugly  wound  which  was  still  bleeding.  He  said  he  had  that 
morning  had  a  fight  with  a  ground  shark,  who  had  bitten  off 
his  apologies 'for  fingers,  and  he  begged 'Captain  Lugner  to 
favor  him  with  a  little  of  his  surgical  skill  and  assistance. 
The  captain,  who  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  recovered  from 
his  fright,  and  went  into  the  cabin,  and  brought  up  a  roll  of 
sticking-plaster,  which  he  applied  to  the  wounded  part,  and 
carefully  bandaged  it,  telling  his  visitor  the  wound  would 
soon  heal.  The  merman,  with  a  hideous  grin  intended  to  be 
particularly  gracious,  made  a  salaam,  then  turned  a  double 
somersault  backwards  over  the  quarter-rail  into  the  water, 
and  was  off  like  a  finback  whale." 

Mark  Rowland  stared  hard  at  Mr.  Hawkins,  after  listen 
ing  to  this  strange  story ;  but  finding  that  worthy  officer 
looking  very  serious,  as  if  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  its 
truth,  he  resumed  the  conversation,  by  saying,  "  So  much 
for  the  mermen;  but  of  the  mermaids/  What  of  them? " 

"  Oh,  they  are  said  to  be  quite  handsome,  extremely  so, 
with  faces  as  round  and  smooth  as  an-  apple,  with  little 
turned-up  noses,  blue  eyes  which  will  look  right  through  a 
man  as  a  corkscrew  goes  through  a  cork,  complexions  thor 
oughly  bleached  in  salt  water,  and  clear  and  white  as  alabas 
ter,  and  a  great  profusion  of  hair,  hanging  in  tresses  a  yard 
and  a  half  long,  which  they  are  often  seen  combing  with  the 
lower  jaw-bone  of  a  shark,  while  they  are  reclining  among 
the  rocks  on  some  lonely  shore,  with  their  heads  and  shoul 
ders  only  out  of  water." 
10* 


114  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"They  must  be  rare-looking  creatures,  indeed,"  said 
Mark.  "  But  do  they  never  leave  the  water  entirety? " 

"  But  seldom,"  replied  Mr.  Hawkins,  "  for  only  the  upper 
half  of  their  bodies  is  human ;  the  rest  is  like  that  of  a  fish, 
and  is  terminated  with  a  splendid  fish-like  tail.  So  you  see 
the  creatures  cunningly  contrive  to  keep  the  lower  half  of 
their  bodies  out  of  sight,  lest  it  should  make  an  unfavorable 
impression  on  those  who  might  chance  to  see  them." 

"  I  think  they  are  quite  right  in  doing  so,"  said  Mark. 
"-Can  they  talk  intelligibly?" 

"  Certainly  they  can,  and  use  honeyed  words,  too." 

"  What  language  do  they  speak?  " 

"What  language?  Why,  all  languages,  of  course.  Ad 
dress  them  in  any  tongue,  and  they  will  reply*in  the  same. 
English,  French,  Dutch,  Spanish,  Italian,  or  even  Choctaw, 
or  Welsh,  —  'tis  all  the  same  to  them,  and  I  doubt  not  that, 
in  the  language  of  the  only  poem  I  ever  read,  — 


they  can  speak  Greek, 

As  naturally  as  pigs  do  squeak ; 
And  Latin  is  no  more  difficile, 
Than  for  a  blackbird  'tis  to  whistle.' 


But  their  greatest  charm  is  in  their  singing.  They  will  lie 
for  hours  among  the  rocks,  and  sing  a  variety  of  enchanting 
songs,  with  voices  that  thrill  through  the  heart  of  a  man, 
and  make  him  forget  his  best  friends,  his  home,  his  wife  and 
children,  and  draw  him  towards  them  by  some  strange  but 
irresistible  fascination,  as  the  opossum  is  drawn  towards  the 
boa  constrictor.  But  woe  to  him  if  he  gets  within  reach  of 
one  of  these  treacherous  beings !  While  he  listens  to  the 
song  with  rapture,  and  advances  towards  her,  his  heart 
overflowing  with  gladness,  she  grasps  him  with  her  fin-like 
arms,  exerting  a  strength  that  few  have  power  to  resist,  and, 


CATCHING   A  MERMAID.  115 

to  his  great  amazement  and  horror,  plunges  with  him  into 
the  flood,  and  he  is  never  seen  again." 

"  But,  Mr.  Hawkins,"  inquired  Mark,  "  suppose  the  man 
should  be  the  stronger  of  the  two  ?  " 

"  He  can  keep  her  his  prisoner,  and  feed  her  on  fresh  fish 
and  salt  water,  until  she  grants  him  three  wishes,  which 
must  not  be  altogether  unreasonable,  relating  to  success  in 
his  occupation  or  his  domestic  happiness." 

Mark  listened,  with  eyes  wide  open,  to  these  marvellous 
statements ;  and  after  a  pause  of  a  few  minutes,  abruptly 
asked  Mr.  Hawkins,  "  Pray,  sir,  did  you  ever  see  a  mer 
maid?"  "-•• 

"  Well,  no  —  yes  —  only  once,"  replied  Mr.  Hawkins,  in 
a  manner  exceedingly  embarassed,  an  unusual  case  with 
him.  "  Upon  the  whole,  Mark,  J  don't  mind  telling  you  all 
about  it.  The  fact  is,  whatever  my  '  protection '  may  say,  I 
was  born  and  brought  up  in  a  small  fishing  village  on  the 
most  rocky-bound  coast  of  Nova  Scotia.  My  father  was  a 
fisherman,  as  his  father  was  before  him,  and  I  was  educated 
to  the  same  business  ;  and  at  an  early  age  became  initiated 
into  all  the  mysteries  of  the  cod,  mackerel,  and  herring  fish 
eries.  When  quite  young,  being  only  eighteen  years  old.  I 
fell  in  love  with  a  bright-eyed  little  beauty,  named  Rosa 
Bell,  who  lived  in  our  immediate  neighborhood.  It  hap 
pened,  unfortunately  for  my  peace  of  mind,  that  Rosa  proved 
to  be  a  veritable  coquette,  and  being  much  sought  after  by 
the  young  fishermen,  and  having  several  strings  to  her  bow, 
hardly  deigned  to  favor  me  with  a  smile,  especially  if  other 
suitors  were  present.  But  I  had  heard  of  mermaids,  and 
knew  they  had  been  seen  at  times  on  different  parts  of  the 
coast.  Indeed,  I  was  assured  by  a  very  old  fisherman  that 
they  sometimes  visited  a  lonely,  uninhabited  island,  just 
opposite  my  father's  hut,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  main  land.  He  said  they  had  been  seen  sometimes  in  the 


116  MARK  ROWLAND. 

edge  of  evening,  sporting  and  making  merry  in  the  waters 
at  the  base  of  the  overhanging  cliffs,  and  if  I  kept  a  sharp 
lookout  in  that  direction  after  sunset,  I  might  be  fortunate 
enough  to  see  one,  and  if  my  strength  and  courage  did  not 
fail  me,  seize  upon  her  and  compel  her  to  grant  me  three 
wishes. 

"  The  idea  was  a  bright  one,  and  I  resolved  to  profit  by  it 
without  .loss  of  time.  "With  this  object  in  view,  I  several 
times  crossed  over  to  the  island  stealthily  in  the  afternoon, 
and  as  twilight  approached,  gazed  inquiringly  around,  hop 
ing  to  see  a  mermaid  reposing  on  the  rocks,  or  sporting  in 
the  water ;  and  one  memorable  evening  nry  expectations  were 
realized. 

"  You  can  hardly  conceive  of  the  joy,  of  the  trepidation, 
which  seized  me,  when,  just  at  dusk,  I  saw  one  of  these 
beautiful  creatures  come  out  of  the  sea,  and  apparently  much 
fatigued  with  the  exercise  of  swimming,  rest  herself  on  a 
shelving  rock.  Her  long  hair,  dripping  with  the  salt  water, 
hung  down  in  long  and  thick  tresses ;  and  she  immediately 
began  to  press  out  the  water,  and  comb  the  tresses  with  her 
fingers. 

"  '  Now  is  the  time/  thought  I  to  myself.  '  If  I  don't 
embrace  this  opportunity,  may  I  never  get  married.'  I  was 
young  and  vigorous,  strong  as  a  giant,  and  bold  as  a  buffalo, 
and  with  such  a  prize  as  Rosa  Bell  at  stake,  did  not  for  a 
moment  hesitate  to  measure  my  strength  with  a  mermaid, 
not  more  than  half  my  size.'  I  crept  down  from  my  hiding- 
place,  passed  gently  around  a  ledge  of  rocks,  and  came  sud 
denly  upon  the  unsuspecting  water  nymph.  With  one  bound 
I  was  at  her  side.  I  caught  her  round  the  waist,  and  clutched 
her  in  my  arms. 

"  She  was  dreadfully  frightened,  and  gave  a  shrill  and 
prolonged  scream,  which  was  heard  a  mile  and  a  half  off! 
She  fought  like  a  tiger-cat,  and  struggled  hard  to  get  away. 


CATCHING   A   MERMAID.  117 

;  Let  me  go !  Do  let  me  go ! '  she  cried,  in  genuine  fisher 
man's  lingo.  But  it  was  of  no  use.  Exerting  all  my 
strength,  I  soon  mastered  her.  '  Now,'  said  I,  in  a  menacing 
tone,  *  grant  me  three  wishes,  here  on  the.  spot,  or  you  are 
my  prisoner  for  life.  Here  they  are :  first,  I  wish  to  marry 
Rosa  Bell,  —  secondly,  I  wish  to  own  a  neat  cottage,  hand 
somely  furnished,  — thirdly,  I  wish  to  have  a  hundred  guin 
eas  put  in  my  pocket  every  New  Year's  Day.  What  say 
you  to  that,  now  ?  Will  you  grant  my  wishes  ?  Say  yes,  or 
I'll '" 

"  c  Oh,  yes,  yes,'  said  the  mermaid,  in  a  trembling  voice. 
1  Let  me  go  !  Do  let  me  go  ! ' ' 

" 4  That's  enough,'  said  I ;  and  as  a  mermaid  was  never 
known  to  break  her  word,  I  instantly  released  her.  The 
moment  my  arms  were  unclasped,  she  made  a  dive  beneath 
the  water,  but  to  my  surprise  soon  rose  to  the  surface,  her 
head  above  the  rippling  waves,  and  began  swimming  like  a 
sea-horse  towards  the  opposite  shore. 

"  c  Never  mind,*  I  said  aloud,  to  myself,  c  'tis  all  right ! 
My  three  wishes  .are  granted,  and  I  am  a  made  man  for  life. 
Jemmy  Hawkins  and  Rosa  Bell  forever!  Success  to  the 
mermaids !  I  skipped  across  the  rocks,  and  reached  my 
skiff,  which  was  lying  quietly  in  a  little  cove,  and  crossed 
over  to  the  mainland,  my  heart  as  light  as  the  down  from 
beneath,  the  wing  of  a  diver,  and  my  head  actually  bewil 
dered  with  my  good  fortune.  I  hardly  slept  a  wink  that 
night,  but  of  waking  dreams  I  had  abundance,  and  they 
were  of  the  most  gay  and  happy  description.  At  an  early 
hour  I  sallied  forth  rejoicing,  determined  to  take  immediate 
steps  towards  securing  my  good  fortune. 

"  But  my  disappointment,  shame,  and  mortification  may 
be  imagined,  when  I  learned  that  I  had  made  a  terrible  mis 
take,  and  the  whole  village  was  in  an  uproar  of  merriment 
about  it.  The  little  mermaid,  who,  after  struggling  and 


118  MARK  ROWLAND. 

.  fighting  like  a  pirate,  granted  my  three  wishes,  proved  to 
be  no  mermaid  after  all,  but  a  lively,  frolicsome  girl,  real 
flesh  and  blood,  named  Polly  Wogge,  old  skipper  Wogge's 
youngest  daughter.  She  was  an  adroit  swimmer,  and  in  a 
gay  mood  had  left  tyer  companions  sporting  in  the  surf  near 
the  beach,  and  ventured  across  the  smooth  water  to  the 
island.  Supposing  herself  alone,  she  intended  resting  for  a 
while  on  the  rock,  after  the  fatiguing  exercise,  when  I 
pounced  upon,  and  nearly  frightened  her  out  of  her  wits. 

"  I  could  not  stand  the  shafts  of  ridicule  that  were  lev 
elled  against  me.  It  was  more  than  human  nature  could 
bear.  Both  Polly  Wogge  and  Kosa  Bell  were  unsparing  in 
their  taunts,  gibes,  and  jests ;  and  even  the  children  laughed 
and  pointed  at  me,  as  I  passed  the  huts  on  my  way  to  the 
shore.  So  I  took  a  straight  course  for  Halifax,  worked 
my  passage  to  Boston,  shipped  as  a  sailor  on  board  a  brig 
bound  to  the  West  Indies,  and  have  never  visited  Nova 
Scotia  since." 


CHAPTER  X. 

EXCITING     SCENES. 

FOR  several  days  after  the  ship  Rosamond  crossed  the 
*  equator,  the  wind  continued  light  and  baffling,  and  some 
times  for  hours  it  was  entirely  calm.  The  ship  gradually 
worked  to  the  southward,  however,  and  having  reached  the 
latitude  of  three  degrees,  the  regular  south-east  trade  winds 
began  to  blow,  and  the  ship  passed  merrily  on  her  way, 
close-hauled,  with  a  pleasant  six-knot  breeze,  a  clear  sky, 
and  a  smooth  sea. 

On  the  following  morning,  having  reached  the  latitude  of 
six  degrees  south,  a  ship  was  descried  from  aloft,  about  two 
points  forward  of  the  beam,  and  distant  'Some  six  or  seven 
miles.  The  ship  was  apparently  on  a  wind,  steering  to  the 
northward,  and  under  short  sail.  The  royals  and  top-gallant 
sails  were  furled,  and  the  mainsail  hauled  up.  Captain  La- 
mark  was  called,,  and  with  spy -glass  in  hand  he  hastened  on 
deck. 

"  That  fellow  don't  seem  to  be  in  a  hurry,"  said  Mr.  Haw 
kins,  who  had  the  morning  watch.  "  I  wonder  where  he  is 
bound  to  in  that  direction,  and  why  he  don't  make  more 
sail." 

"  He  may  be  from  the  River  of  Plate,  bound  to  some  port 
in  Europe,"  said  Captain  Lamark ;  "  and  as  his  masts  have 
the  true  pilot-boat  rake,  and  the  captain  is  probably  paid  by 
the  month,  he  jogs  along  quietly  under  easy  sail,'  and  will 
have  more  wages  due  him  at  the  end  of  the  voyage  than 

119 


120  MARK  ROWLAND. 

• 

would  be  the  case  if  he  cracked  on  all  sail  in  all  weathers. 
Well,  peace  be  with  him;  let  "'him  spin  his  own  spunyarn. 
Hallo  !  what  is  the  fellow  about  now  ?  He's  tacking  ship  as 
sure  as  I'm  a  porpoise,  and  his  vessel  goes  round  like  a 
top ! " 

Captain  Lamark's  eyes  did  not  deceive  him.  The  stran 
ger  had  by  this  time  probably  got  a  glimpse  of  the  Rosamond, 
and  seemed  suddenly  endued  with  new  life.  After  having 
tacked  ship,  he  kept  off  the  wind  a  couple  of  points,  set  top 
gallant  sails  and  royals  and  studding-sails,  steering  in  a 
direction  that  would  enable  him,  if  he  proved  the  fastest  sail 
er,  to  close  with  the  Rosamond. 

Captain  Lamark  watched  him  closely  with  his  spy-glass, 
and  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  his  appearance.  The 
ship  was  a  clipper,  and  gained  upon  us  fast.  As  he  drew 
nearer,  Captain  Lamark  declared  that  the  fellow  looked  like 
a  rogue,  for  he  carried  guns,  but  could  hardly  be  a  man-of- 
war  cruising  in  peaceable  times  in  that  part  of  the  ocean. 

u  Perhaps,"  said  Mr.  Digges,  "  he  is  a  Portuguese  slaver, 
bound  to  some  port  in  Brazil." 

"  Not  very  likely,"  remarked  the  captain.  "  If  he  is  one 
of,  those  man-stealers,  he  would  not  be  steering  away  to  the 
northward  under  a  scarcity  of  canvas,  but  would  be  making 
a  straight  course  for  his  destined  port,  under  a  press  of  sail. 
He  is  far  more  likely  to  be  a  slave-ship  transformed  into  a 
pirate,  —  a  transformation  very  natural,  and  easily  effected. 
But  in  either  case  he  must  be  an  ugly  customer,  and  we  will 
try  to  give  him  a  wide  berth,  and  dodge  him  if  possible." 

Orders  were  now  given  to  keep  the  ship  off  a  couple  of 
points,  the  yards  were  braced  in  and  studding-sails  set  on 
the  larboard  side,  and  a  hand-engine  was  put  in  operation 
for  wetting  the  sails.  There  was  a  fine  breeze,  and  the  Ro 
samond  began  to  slip  through  the  water  at  the  rate  of  nine 
or  ten  knots.  The  ship  clearly  did  her  best ;  and  the  great 


EXCITING     SCENES.  121 

white  bone  she  carried  in  her  mouth,  and  the  broad,  bub 
bling,  boiling  wake  she  left  behind,  were  marvellous  to 
behold. 

It  was  soon  seen  that  our  exertions  were  of  no  use.  The 
stranger  gained  upon  the  Rosamond  every  minute.  This 
being  the  case,  Captain  Lamark,  who  was  distinguished  for 
energy  and  courage,  and  was  seldom  at  a  loss  for  resources, 
turned  his  attention  to  the  condition  of  his  defences,  not 
knowing  how  soon  he  might  have  a  brush  with  an  enemy. 

The  Rosamond  had  six  carriage- guns  on  board,  not  of 
large  calibre,  being  six-pounders,  which  had  been  well  fitted 
with  breechings  and  gun-tackles,  after  the  ship  reached  the 
tropics,  and  plenty  of  ammunition,  such  as  woollen  car 
tridges,  rope-yarn  wads,  and  round  shot,  grape,  and  canis 
ter.  The  magazine  was  in  the  run,  and  contained  several 
kegs  of  powder.  There  was  also  on  board  a  good  supply  of 
muskets  and  boarding-pikes,  so  that  a  smart  action  could  be 
maintained  so  long  as  there  were  men  enough  to  manage  the 
guns  and  wield  the  boarding-pikes.  But  it  was  manifest 
that  the  Rosamond  had  not  a  sufficient  armament  and  crew 
to  cope  successfully  with  a  piratical  ship,  heavily  armed, 
with  abundance  of  men  to  fight. 

However,  Captain  Lamark  ordered  everything  to  be  got 
in  readiness  for  making  a  desperate  resistance,  provided  the 
stranger  should  prove  to  be  a  rogue.  The  guns  were  loaded 
with  round  shot  and  canister.  Every  man  knew  his  station. 
The  captain  declared  he  would  sooner  go  to  the  bottom 
fighting  boldly  for  life,  than  surrender  like  a  craven,  with 
the  prospect  of  being  shot  through  the  head,  or  having  his 
throat  cut  from  car  to  ear,  in  cold  blood,  as  soon  as  the  ship 
was  boarded..  "  Besides,"  said  the  captain,  "  remember  that 
pirates  are  always  cowards,  and  will  fight  hard  only  when  it 
is  necessary  to  save  their  necks  from  a  halter.  They  never 
attack  brave  men  who  are  provided  with  means  of  defence." 
11 


122  MARK  ROWLAND. 

The  strange  sail  continued  to  gain  on  the  Rosamond,  but 
hoisted  no  colors,  and  fired  no  gun.  Captain  Lamark  now 
ordered  the  studding-sails  and  all  the  light  sails  to  be  taken 
in,  and  the  courses  hauled  up,  thus  intimating  to  the 
stranger  that,  like  a  boxer  who  had  stripped  off  all  super 
fluous  clothing,  he  was  ready  for  a  fight. 

The  three  guns  from  the  starboard  side  had  been  shifted 
over,  and  six  ports  having  been  opened,  the  guns  were  all 
ostentatiously  run  out,  giving  the  peaceable  old  ship  a  de 
cidedly  warlike  aspect.  Pea-jackets  and  hats  and  caps  were 
hung  on  handspikes,  and  paraded  on  different  parts  of  the 
deck,  looking  mavellously  like  men,  thus  recruiting  a  strong 
force  for  the  occasion  with  little  trouble  -or  expense ;  and 
half  a  dozen  of  the  crew  with  muskets  showed  themselves 
on  the  quarter-deck,  to  increase  the  fierce  and  formidable 
appearance  of  the  American  East-Indiaman.  Among  these 
was  Mark  Rowland,  who  exhibited  much  intrepidity  on  the 
occasion,  and  seemed  eager  for  the  fight.  "  Do  let  me  have 
a  musket,"  said  he  to  the  captain.  "  I  have  more  than  once 
brought  down  a  gray  squirrel  from  the  top  of  a  lofty  oak, 
and  I  know  I  can  send  a  bullet  through  a  pirate  at  more  than 
double  that  distance."  And  his  request  was  granted. 

The  suspicious  vessel  drew  nearer.  .  The  men  could  be 
seen  on  the  decks.  It  appeared  to  be  about  three  hundred 
tons  burden,  but  heavily  sparred,  and  its  masts  had  an  unus 
ual  rake.  It  was  evidently  an  armed  ship,  with  men  enough 
to  work  all  the  guns,  and  to  spare.  It  was  no  man-of-war, 
for  the  discipline  on  board  was  very  loose,  as  was  seen  by 
,  the  set  of  the  sails,  the  staying  of  the  masts,  and  the  gen 
eral  management  of  the  ship.  It  was  painted  black,  and  its 
high  poop  and  forecastle-deck  indicated  that  if  not  a  slaver, 
it  had  been  engaged  recently  in  the  slave-trade. 

The  stranger  having  got  nearly  in  the  wake  of  the  Rosa 
mond,  hauled  close  on  a  wind,  steering  a  course  almost  par- 


EXCITING   SCENES.  123 

allcl,  and  keeping  about  half  a  mile  off.  It  was  an  anxious 
time.  He  showed  no  colors,  thus  demonstrating  that  he  was 
no  friend  in  want  of  information  or  assistance.  There  was 
something  grim  and  repulsive  in  his  very  looks.  He  clearly 
meant  mischief,  and  would  be  restrained  only  by  the  most 
bold  and  resolute  conduct  on  the  part  of  those  brave  men 
who,  unable  to  escape  by  a  clean  pair  of  heels,  desperately 
confronted  him,  like  a  stag  at  bay. 

The  stranger  now  slackened  sail,  and  for  some  time  kept 
along  at  the  same  distance,  and  on  the  weather-beam  of  the 
Indiaman,  apparently  undetermined  what  course  to  adopt. 
Meanwhile,  the  crew  of  the  ship,  trembling  with  suspense 
and  excitement,  but  not  with  fear,  stood  boldly  to  their 
guns,  ready  at  a  word  or  a  sign  from  the  captain  to  pour 
in  a  broadside,  and  keep  up  the  fight  with  the  big  guns, 
muskets,  and  boarding-pikes,  as  long  as  a  man  was  left  to 
load  a  gun  or  wield  a  weapon. 

After  running  along  in  this  manner  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes,  the  piratical  craft  gradually  edged  away ;  and  as 
the  course  of  the  Rosamond  was  not  clianged,  the  two  vessels 
approached  each  other  until  almost  within  hail,  being  hardly 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart.  Mr.  Digges,  convinced  that  the 
fellow  was  a  pirate,  and  believing  that  if  he  was  not,  he 
richly  deserved  to  be  chastised  for  his  insolence,  strongly 
urged  Captain  Lamark  to  hoist  the  Yankee  flag  and  give  him 
a  broadside. 

To  this  Captain  Lamark  objected,  on  the  ground  that  there 
had  yet  been  no  hostile  demonstration.  "  Keep  cool,  keep 
collected,  Mr.  Digges,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  be  ready  for 
the  word ;  and  remember,  that  when  we  begin  the  work,  we 
must  put  it  through  at  all  hazards,  like  true-blue  American 
sailors ! " 

The  pirate  captain  was  easily  distinguished,  as  he  stood  on 
the  poop  giving  orders  through  his  speaking-trumpet,  and 


124  MARK  ROWLAND. 

frequently  using  his  spy-glass.  He  wore  a  striped  shirt  and 
white  trousers,  but  neither  jacket  nor  vest ;  he  'also  wore  a 
bandanna  kerchief  loosely  around  his  neck,  and  a  gray  cap 
on  his  head.  He  took  a  close  and  deliberate  survey,  but  did 
not  seem  to  like  the  appearance  of  the  ship.  Preparations 
for  a  desperate  resistance  were  too  manifest  to  suit  his  pur 
pose,  which  undoubtedly  was  booty  without  risk  ;  for  pirates 
in  all  ages  dearly  love  to  rob  and  murder,  but  not  to  fight. 
He  fired  a  gun  to  windward  as  a  note  of  defiance,  and  with 
out  showing  any  flag,  tacked  ship,  and  stood  away  to  the 
northward  under  full  sail. 

When  this  manoeuvre  was  executed,  every  man  on  board 
breathed  easier.  "  We  have  had  a  narrow  escape,"  said 
Captain  Lamark.  "  It  was  lucky  for  us  we  could  show  our 
teeth,  and  were  ready  and  willing  to  bite." 

Only  Mark  Rowland  expressed  regret  at  the  result. 
"  Oh,"  said  he,  "I  should  so  like  to  have  had  a  shot  at 
that  pirate  captain ! " 

That  the  ship,  whose  conduct  was  so  mysterious,  was  a 
pirate,  there  was  no  doubt ;  for,  on  the  arrival  of  Captain 
Lamark  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  he  learned  that  an  Eng 
lish  sloop-of-war  had  sailed  from  Cape  Town  only  a  few  days 
before,  to  cruise  near  the  equator  for  a  pirate  ship  which  in 
fested  the  track  of  vessels  bound  to  the  East  Indies  and  the 
Brazils.  This  ship,  formerly  a  slaver  from  Havana,  was 
commanded  by  a  Spaniard  notorious  for  his  cruelty  and 
ferocity  and  deadly  hatred  of  Britons  and  Americans,  on 
account  of  their  interference  with  the  slave-trade.  For 
these  fiendish  traits  of  character,  he  received,  and  was  gen 
erally  known  by,  the  significant  appellation  of  "  Der  Teufel." 
And  before  the  Rosamond  reached  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  her  crew  met  with  fearful  evidence 
that  some  inhuman  monsters  were  cruising  in  that  part  of 


EXCITING   SCENES.  125 

the  South  Atlantic,  and  committing  startling,  bloody,  and 
fiend-like  deeds. 

That  night,  in  the  first  watch,  the  sailors  on  duty  were 
grouped  together  on  the  forecastle,  talking  over  the  incidents 
of  the  day,  or  indulging  in  speculations  respecting  the  char 
acter  of  the  stranger  who  had  given  them  so  much  trouble, 
and  caused  them  so  much  perplexity  and  fear. 

"  We  may  thank  the  kind  Providence  that  watches  over 
sailors,"  said  Jack  Radkin,  "  that  we  escaped  from  the 
clutches  of  that  fellow.  If  a  gun  had  been  fired  on  either 
side,  it  would  have  brought  on  a  battle,  and  we  should  have 
come  off  second  best,  and  been  food  for  sharks  long  before 
this.  Those  Guineamen  are  desperate  men.  I  know  them 
of  old.  When  they  turn  pirates,  they  fight  like  demons,  and 
massacre,  in  hot  or  cold  blood,  every  being — man,  woman, 
or  child  —  who  falls  into  their  hands." 

"You  know  them  of  old?"  inquired  Abram  Hartshorn. 
u  Were  you  ever  in  a  slaver,  Jack?" 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  the  old  tar ;  "  but  I've  been  in  a 
British  man-of-war  on  a  cruise  after  slavers,  and  have  wit 
nessed  scenes  on  the  coast  of  Guinea  that  gave  me  an  in 
sight  into  their  character,  —  scenes  almost  too  horrible  to 
describe." 

"  What  were  they,  Jack?  Tell  us  all  about  them,"  clam 
orously  exclaimed  his  watchmates,  who  dearly  loved  a  yarn, 
and  rejoiced  at  the  prospect  of  having  one  spun  by  Jack 
Radkin. 

"  I  have  already  told  you,"  said  the  veteran  sailor,  "  that 
when  I  was  a  boy,  hardly  knee-high  to  a  marline-spike,  I  was 
impressed,  for  my  sins,  on  board  an  English  frigate  in  the 
chops  of  the  English  Channel.  A  few  weeks  afterwards,  we 
entered  Plymouth,  and  I  was  drafted  on  board  the  gun-brig 
Porcupine,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  James  Throgmorton, 

and  mounting  twelve  guns,  a  remarkably  fast  vessel,  bound 
11* 


126  MARK  ROWLAND. 

on  a  cruise  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  to  look  after  the  man- 
stealing  craft  in  that  quarter,  with  instructions  to  capture 
or  destroy  all  we  might  fall  in  with. 

"  After  touching  at  Sierra  Leone,  we  cruised  for  a  while 
in  the  Bight  of  Benin,  afterwards  in  the  Gulf  of  Biafra; 
and  although  we  did  not  succeed  in  capturing  any  of  the 
slavers  sneaking  out  of  the  creeks  and  lagoons,  with  full 
cargoes  of  negroes,  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
we  prevented  several  suspicious-looking  armed  clippers  from 
stealing  in.  Two  clipper-brigs,  which,  from  appearances, 
were  undoubted  Guineamen,  being  completely  fitted  up  and 
in  readiness  to  receive  a  large  cargo  of  darkies,  we  cap 
tured,  after  a  running  fight,  and  sent  to  Sierra  Leone  for 
condemnation. 

"  We  afterwards  proceeded  down  the  coast  some  five  hun 
dred  miles,  with  a  view  to  look  into  Loango  and  Kabinda, 
or  blockade  the  mouth  of  the  Congo  river.  We  arrived  off 
Kabinda  early  one  morning,  and  saw  a  ship  in  the  offing, 
which  had  evidently  left  the  harbor  a  few  hours  before,  with 
all  sail  set,  steering  to  the  westward,  with  a  light  breeze 
from  the  north-east. 

"'Hallo/  said  the  captain,  after  eyeing  the  ship  for  a 
while  through  his  spy-glass,  '  yonder  is  one  of  the  rogues 
we  are  after ;  a  ship  full  of  negroes,  real  Congoes,  stowed  in 
bulk !  Now  we  have  another  chance  to  try  what  stuff  the 
Porcupine  is  made  of.  Clap  on  every  stitch  of  canvas  that 
will  draw/  said  he  to  the  lieutenant.  '  Before  the  blessed 
sun  sinks  into  his  briny  bed  that  ship  must  be  a  prize  to  the 
Porcupine,  and  the  skipper,  officers,  and  crew,  clapped  in 
double  irons,  as  sure  as  my  name  is  Throgmorton  ! J 

"•His  orders  were  promptly  obeyed.  We  soon  reached 
the  wake  of  the  slave-sliip,  and  with  an  unsteady  breeze, 
directly  aft,  and  under  a  cloud  of  sail,  continued  the  chase. 

"The  slave-ship  was  a  clipper,  as  is  the  case  with  all 


EXCITING   SCENES.  127 

* 

vessels  engaged  in  that  detestable  traffic,  but  was  better  cal 
culated  to  work  to  windward  than  run  before  the  wind. 
While,  on  the  contrary,  the  Porcupine,  a  fast  vessel,  built  on 
a  different  model,  with  a  good  breeze  in  her  wake,  and  stud 
ding-sails,  both  sides,  alow  and  aloft,  and  a  smooth  sea, 
would  slip  along  through  the  water  as  fast  as  any  ship1  that 
ever  was  built.  The  slaver,  I've  no  doubt,  would  have 
given  all  his  old  junk  and  a  good  part  of  his  cargo  besides^ 
to  have  got  the  weather-gage.  But  it  could  not  be.  It  was 
a  fair  race,  —  dead  before  the  wind,  —  and  all  he  had  to  do 
was  to  crowd  on  all  his  canvas,  steer  small,  and  trust  to 
luck  and  his  six-pounders. 

"The  slaver  had  some  six  or  eight  miles  the  start,  —  a 
great  advantage,  —  and  the  wind  being  light,  for  some  time 
the  result  was  uncertain.  Captain  Throgmorton  was  greatly 
excited.  The  sails  were  stretched  to  the  utmost.  Impos 
sible  plans  were  resorted  to  in  order  to  spread  more  canvas, 
and  set  studding-sails  outside  of  studding-sails,  and  if  hal 
looing,  swearing,  and  stamping  could  have  helped  us,  we 
should  have  been  alongside  the  ship  in  no  time. 

"  But  the  breeze  increased,  and  when  in  the  course  of  half 
an  hour  it  became  evident  that  we  were  slowly  but  surely 
gaining  on  the  chase,  the  captain's  exultation  knew  no 
bounds.  c  "We  shall  catch  the  rascal ! '  said  he  to  his  first 
lieutenant.  '  He  cannot  escape  us  now.  See  the  guns  all 
loaded  and  double-shotted,  for  these  desperadoes,  when  they 
cannot  run  away,  will  stand  at  bay  and  fight  like  pirates.' 

"  But  the  wind  soon  afterwards  died  away,  and  for  an  hour 
or  two  we  drew  no  nearer.  Then  the  breeze  freshened  again, 
and  then  it  lulled,  and  we  had  cats-paws  and  fresh  breezes 
by  turns,  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  we 
had  approached  the  ship  so  closely  that  the  captain  ordered 
a  shot  to  be  sent  from  a  twelve-pounder  mounted  on  the  bow. 
The  ball  passed  over  the  ship,  doing  no  harm,  and  the  slaver 


128  MARK  ROWLAND. 

instantly  acknowledged  the  compliment  and  returned  it,  by 
sending  towards  us  the  contents  of  his  stern-chasers,  which, 
however,  fell  short. 

"  The  wind,  although  light,  was  now  more  steady,  and 
1  Captain  Throgmorton  was  excessively  anxious  to  close  with 
and  capture  the  chase  before  night,  lest  the  rascal  should 
give  us  the  slip  in  the  dark.  On  the  other  hand,  the  slaver 
left  no  means  untried  to  baffle  our  efforts.  The  two  guns  of 
small  calibre  that  the  ship  fired  from  time  to  time  from  the 
stern  ports,  did  little  or  no  execution,  for  they  were  badly 
served,  while  it  was  evident  that  our  twelve-pounder,  which 
struck  the  ship  several  times,  did  considerable  damage, 
making  the  splinters  fly  in  every  direction,  and  must  have 
cut  off  all  hopes  of  escape.  The  prospect  was  now  good 
that  Captain  Throgmorton's  prediction  would  be  realized, 
and  the  slave-ship  would  become  a  prize  to  his  Majesty's 
brig  Porcupine,  and  all  the  crew  in  irons  before  night.  But 
we  did  not  know  the  true  character  of  the  slavers,  and  could 
not  even  dream  of  the  desperate  means  they  would  resort  to 
in  order  to  avoid  being  captured. 

"  Captain  Throgmorton,  who  was  standing  on  the  fore 
castle  watching  every  movement  of  the  slave-ship  through  his 
spy-glass,  suddenly  gave  orders  in  a  very  excited  tone,  and 
apparently  without  a  shadow  of  reason,  '  Stand  by,  lads  !  in 
studding-sails  !  haul  up  the  courses  !  brace  up  the  head-yards, 
and  be  handy  about  it !  hard  a-starboard  your  helm,  Jack ! ' 
and  in  two  minutes  the  brig  was  lying-to,  motionless  on  the 
water,  with  the  maintop-sail  aback. 

"  Orders  were  now  given  to  man  and  lower  away  one  of 
the  boats  ;  and  the  sight  of  several  dark-looking  objects  in 
the  water,  but  a  few  fathoms  to  leeward,  looking  like  cocoa- 
nuts  or  calibasbes  bobbing  up  and  down,  gave  us  a  glimpse 
of  the  cause  of  this  strange  proceeding.  It  seems  that  the 
black-hearted  villain,  finding  we  were  fast  overhauling  him, 


EXCITING  SCENES.  129 

had  thrown  overboard  some  half  a  dozen  negroes,  knowing 
that  they  could  swrim,  and  that  we,  through  a  feeling  of  hu 
manity,  would  heave-to,  get  out  our  boats,  and  pick  them 
up,  while  in  the  mean  time  the  ship  would  be  sailing  onward, 
and  rapidly  increasing  the  distance  between  us. 

"  The  trick  was  successful.  The  poor  negroes  were  saved, 
and  brought  on  board  the  Porcupine,  and  then  in  a  jiffey  we 
were  again  under  all  sail  in  chas*e.  On  again  drawing  near  the 
ship,  the  trick  .was  repeated,  with  the  same  result.  It  now 
looked  as  if  the  slaver  might  manage  in  this  way  to  avoid 
capture  until  dark,  and  perhaps  in  the  end  make  his  escape. 

"  But  Captain  Throgmorton  was  not  to  be  thus  cheated 
out  of  his  prize.  At  the  third  time  of  heaving-to,  he  or 
dered  the  launch  to  be  hoisted  out,  and  manned  by  an  officer 
and  eight  seamen,  with  orders  to  pick  up  all  the  negroes  he 
could  find,  and  follow  in  the  wake  of  the  brig.  He  declared 
that  he  would  not  heave-to  again,  if  the  whole  cargo  of 
blacks  was  thrown  overboard ;  that  it  was  better  even  to 
sacrifice  a  few  lives,  than  allow  such  an  unmitigated  villain 
as  the  commander  of  that  vessel  must  be,  to  escape  the  pun 
ishment  he  deserved. 

"  So  we  sailed  straight  on  for  the  ship,  and  as  the  breeze 
increased,  drew  towards  it,  hand  over  hand.  Meanwhile  the 
slaver  continued  to  pitch  negroes  overboard,  and  the  launch 
astern  was  busily  employed  in  picking  them  up.  "We  kept 
peppering  the  slaver  with  our  bow-guns,  and,  giving  an  occa 
sional  yaw,  would  let  fly  a  whole  broadside,  which  cut  up  her 
rigging,  must  have  made  bloody  work  with  the  crew,  and 
finally  tumbled  the  maintop-mast  over  the  side,  and  put  an 
end  to  the  chase.  The  ship,  whose  guns  had  been  silenced 
for  the  last  half  hour,  now  rounded  to,  and  hoisted  a  Portu 
guese  flag,  and  immediately  hauled  it  down,  in  token  of 
surrender.  *  . 

44  In  a  few  minutes  both  vessels  were  lying-to,  almost 


130  MARK  ROWLAND. 

within  hail  of  each  other,  and  a  boat  with  an  officer  and 
a  large  party  of  armed  men  was  dispatched  from  the  Por 
cupine  to  take  possession  of  the  slave-ship.  The  boat 
reached  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  the  men  were  mounting  the 
gangway  ladder,  when  Captain  Throgmorton  and  all  the 
Porcupine's  crew  were  gazing  eagerly  at  the  slaver,  anxious 
to  see  what  kind  of  a  reception  our  friends  would  meet  with. 

"  We  were  not  long  kept  in  suspense.  Just  as  the  offi 
cer  was  stepping  over  the  gangway,  with  the  boat's-crew 
at  his  heels,  a  dense  volume  of  smoke  rose  suddenly 
from  the  quarter-deck,  followed  by  a  cloud  of  masts,  sails, 
timbers,  and  human  beings,  some  of  which  were  shot  high 
into  the  air,  and  others  were  spread  out  on  every  side,  and 
then  fell  in  a  fearful  shower,  disturbing  the  ocean  for  half  a 
mile  around. 

"  The  captain  of  the  slave-ship,  finding  there  were  no 
hopes  of  escape,  and  being  a  desperate  ruffian,  crazy  with 
disappointment  and  rage,  had  fired  the  powder  in  the  maga 
zine,  and  blown  the  ship  sky-high. 

"  The  explosion  was  an  awful  one.  It  made  old  ocean 
tremble  for  miles  around,  and  actually  shook  the  timbers  of 
the  Porcupine.  The  brig  was  'still  shaking  when  the  sky 
above  us  seemed  to  open,  deluging  our  decks  with  pieces  of 
wreck,  showers  of  gore,  and  human  trunks  and  limbs. 

"  The  slaver  had  a  ship's  company  consisting  of  thirty- 
five  men,  all  told,  belonging  to  half  a  dozen  nations,  and 
was  commanded  by  a  Portuguese  named  Pedro  Martinez, 
and  bound  for  San  Salvador  in  the  Bay  of  All  Saints.  There 
was  a  full  cargo  on  board,  consisting  of  six  hundred  negroes, 
who  all  perished  by  this  dreadful  explosion,  excepting  about 
a  half  dozen,  who  were  drawn  out  from  among  the  fragments 
of  the  wreck,  some  of  them  badly  wounded,  and  those  who 
were  thrown  overboard  during  the  chase,  and  picked  up  by 
our  boats.  Only  one  of  the  ship's  company  was  saved  ;  and 


EXCITING   SCENES.  131 

he  was  found  clinging  to  a  spar,  with  his  thigh  broken.  Of 
the  officer  and  boat's  crew  who  boarded  the  slaver,  no  trace 
was  ever  discovered. 

"So  much  for  these  slave-ships,  shipmates.  And  when 
such  fellows  turn  pirates,  and  hoist  the  black  flag,  you  may 
imagine  what  demons  they  become,  and  how  terrible  would 
be  our  fate  if  we  should  fall  into  such  hands.  May  the 
time  never  come  when  we  shall  be  compelled  to  call  upon 
such  monsters  for  mercy !  " 

"  I  say  amen  to  that,"  exclaimed  Bob  Randy. 

"  So  say  we  all,"  added  his  watch-mates. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  WORK  OF   DEMONS. 

ON  the  evening  after  the  exciting  chase  and  preparations 
made  for  fighting  for  life,  described  in  the  foregoing  chapter, 
the  captain  and  mates  were  talking  over  the  affair  on  the 
quarter-deck,  while  the  ship  was  slipping  along  through  the 
water  at  the  rate  of  six  or  seven  knots. 

"  Captain  Lamark,  that  was  a  bright  idea  of  yours,"  said 
Mr.  Digges,  the  chief  mate,  "  that  of  dressing  up  the  hand 
spikes  with  pea-jackets  and  caps,  and  thus  doubling  the 
number  of  our  crew." 

" Yes,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins ;  "it  must  have  been  that 
which  frightened  the  pirate.  He  was  afraid  to  board  us  in 
the  face  of  such  a  number  of  desperate  men,  well  armed  and 
fighting  for  their  lives.  Not  wishing  to  risk  the  loss  of  half 
his  crew,  he  wisely  made  off,  and  left  us  alone  in  our  glory." 

"  The  scheme  was  a  good  one,"  said  the  captain.  "  I  had 
seen  it  tried  before.  This  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  fallen 
in  with  a  pirate." 

"  Indeed  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Digges. 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Captain  Lamark,  "and  he  was 
driven  off  by  bluff  and  bravado,  by  handspikes  and  women 
transformed  into  sailors,  and  a  living  '  Long  Tom/ 

"A  living  Long  Tom?  Surely,  sir,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Digges,  "  you  mean  a  wooden  one." 

"  No  such  a  thing,"  said  the  captain.     "  I  will  tell  you 

132 


THE   WORK   OF   DEMONS.  133 

how  the  affair  took  place.  When  I  was  a  youngster,  I 
shipped  as  an  ordinary  seaman  on  board  the  schooner  Dan 
delion,  bound  from  Charleston  to  Matanzas  with  a  cargo  of 
rice.  The  schooner  was  a  good-looking  vessel,  with  a  flush 
deck,  and  sat  deeply  in  the  water,  and  being  painted  black 
made  quite  an  imposing  appearance.  But  although  a  good 
sailing  vessel,  she  had  no  pretensions  to  being  a  clipper. 

"  The  Dandelion  was  commanded  by  a  little  man  with  a 
long  name,  Cornelius  Montgomery  Duncannon.  He  was 
small  in  size,  but  full  of  energy  and  spirit.  He  was  alive  all 
over,  in  his  muscles  and  bones,  as  well  as  in  his  brains  and 
heart.  Besides  the  captain,  there  belonged  to  the  schooner* 
the  mate,  Mr.  Ramsey,  four  seamen,  a  boy,  and  a  cook. 
There  were  also  eight  passengers  on  board,  —  three  gentle 
men  and  five  ladies, — the  whole  number  of  persons  on  board 
being  sixteen. 

44  Although  many  piracies  had  been  committed  on  the  coast 
of  Cuba,  the  Dandelion  was  furnished  with  no  means  of  de 
fence  ;  but  was  destitute  of  large  guns,  boarding-pikes,  and 
cutlasses.  Her  sole  stock  of  arms  and  ammunition  consisted 
of  three  rusty  muskets,  and  a  flask  of  damaged  powder. 

"  Off  the  Double-Headed  Shot  Keys,  however,  the  folly  and 
guilt  of  going  to  sea  without  arms  became  manifest.  At 
sunrise  one  morning,  a  small  schooner,  long  and  low,  with 
rakish  masts,  and  a  snakish  appearance,  with  two  or  more 
guns  run  out  of  her  port-holes,  and  her  decks  crowded  with 
men,  was  descried  leaving  the  Salt-Cay  Bank,  and  making  a 
straight  course  for  the  Dandelion.  It  was  as  clear  as  a 
moonlight  night  in  Baffin's  Cay,  that  mischief  was  afoot. 

"  The  news  was  soon  spread  through  the  vessel  that  a  pirate 
was  in  chase  of  the  Dandelion,  under  full  sail,  and  rapidly 
coming  up.  Great  was  the  commotion  on  board.  There 
was  no  occasion  to  call  all  hands ;  every  man  was  on  deck 
gazing  at  the  schooner,  almost  before  Captain  Duncannon 
12 


134  MARK  ROWLAND. 

had  made  her  out  through  the  spy-glass.  The  passengers, 
also,  impelled  by  fear  and  curiosity,  tumbled  upon  deck, 
scantily  clad,  and  huddled  around  the  captain,  eagerly  ask 
ing  if  that  vessel  was  really  a  pirate. 

"  Captain  Duncannon  told  them  candidly  that  there  was 
cause  for  alarm  ;  that  the  vessel  undoubtedly  was  a  pirate, 
with  intentions  to  board  the  Dandelion  and  commit  outrages 
on  property  and  life ;  that  he  hardly  knew  how  he  could  pre 
vent  it,  as  he  could  neither  fight  nor  run ;  that  he  would  try, 
however,  to  disappoint  the  demons,  and  might  perhaps  hit 
upon  some  pretext  or  plan  to  frighten  the  rascals,  and  save 
"the  schooner,  with  the  lives  and  property  entrusted  to  his 
care. 

"  i  I  was  a  fool  and  a  blockhead/  said  Captain  Duncannon, 
striking  his  forehead  with  his  fist,  '  to  leave  Charleston  with 
out  something  in  ihe  shape  of  a  gun.  If  we  had  only  a  son 
of  a  gun  on  board,  or  even  a  Quaker,  it  would  be  better 
than  nothing.  We  might  manage  to  make  the  fellow  think 
it  was  Long  Tom,  when  such  is  their  dread  of  that  gentle 
man,  that  he  would  wear  round  on  his  "heel,  get  on  the  other 
tack,  and  clear  out  like  the  Flying  Dutchman  in  a  gale  of 
wind.  Oh,  if  we  only  had  a  Long  Tom,  although  it  were  a 
wooden  one ! ' 

"  '  Long  Tom? '  echoed  Mr.  Ramsay,  the  mate  ;  '  a  wood 
en  one  ?  'Why  would  not  a  living  one  answer  ?  Long  Living 
ston  would  make  a  better  one  than  was  ever  hewed  out  of  a 
block  of  wood ! ' 

"  '  Long  Livingston ! '  shouted  the  skipper,  in  a  voice  of 
exultation,  while  the  "clouds  vanished  from  his  brow  like  a 
fog  before  a  sunbeam  off  Cape  Sable.  <  Long  Livingston ! 
The  very  thing.  Mr.  Ramsay,  you  are  a  trump,  and  I  was 
a  ninny  not  to  have  thought  of  it  myself.  Long  Livingston 
was  fashioned  by  nature  for  a  Long  Tom.  I  have  it  now, 
and  if  I  do  not  astonish  those  fellows  I  am  mistaken,  that's  all/ 


THE   WORK   OF   DEMONS.  135 

"  Long  Livingston  was  the  name  given  to  one  of  the  sailors, 
a  tall,  simple,  ungainly  looking  Yankee,  from  4  down  east/ 
His  real  name  was  Jacob  Livingston  ;  but  on  account  of  his 
height,  being  about  six  feet  and  a  half,  and  remarkably  slim, 
he  was  known  on  board  by  no  other  name  than  Long  Living 
ston.  He  was  a  good-natured,  harmless  fellow,  a  standing 
target  for  a  joke,  and  took  in  good  part  the  shafts  of  wit  that 
were  from  time  to  time  levelled  at  him  from  every  man  on 
board. 

"  Captain  Duncannon,  with:  that  alacrity  in  ferreting  out 
and  adopting  resources  which  is  peculiar  to  men  of  genius, 
at  once  seized  upon  the  hint  which  his  mate  had  given,  and 
at  the  same  time  seized  upon  Livingston  himself,  with  the 
laudable  determination  to  transform  that  tall  and  interesting 
specimen  of  salt-water  humanity  into  a  c  Long  Tom/  Liv 
ingston  was  astonished  at  being  so  suddenly  changed  from  a 
quiet,  peaceful,  inoffensive  sailor,  into  a  formidable  weapon 
of  war,  whose  mission  it  was  to  pour  forth  vengeance,  fury, 
fire,  and  brimstone,  on  the  enemy.  He  made  no  objection, 
however.  If  Captain  Duncannon  thought  he  should  make  a 
good  Long  Tom,  he  had  nothing  to  say  against  it. 

"  It  happened,  fortunately  for  those  on  board  the  Dande 
lion,  that  the  wind  was  far  to  the  northward,  and  the  schoon 
er  was  now  running  along  with  a  five  or  six  knot  breeze, 
with  the  main  boom  guyed  out  on  the  larboard  quarter.  The 
pirate  vessel  being  under  the  lee,  those  on  board  were  unable 
to  see  any  of  the  doings  between  the  fore  and  main-mast  of 
the  schooner.  Under  Captain  Duncannon' s  directions  a  plat 
form  was  laid  on  the  long  boat  in  a  marvellous  short  time. 
On  the  centre  of  this  platform  a  log  of  wood,  about  two  and 
a  half  feet  long,  sawed  square  off  at  each  end,  was  placed 
upright  and  securely  fixed.  On  the  upper  end  a  plank  about 
seven  feet  long  was  placed  horizontally.  This  plank  was 
fastened  to  the  top  of  the  log,  which  acted  as  a  pivot  by  a 


136  MARK   ROWLAND. 

bolt,  so  that  the  position  of  the  plank,  that  is,  the  direction 
in  which  it  pointed,  could  be  changed  at  will.  To  this 
plank  long,  Livingston  was  lashed,  having  on  his  head  a 
Scotch  cap,  which  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  muzzle 
of  a  big  gun.  A  piece  of  rattlin  stuff  was  tied  to  his  heels, 
by  hauling  on  which,  this  formidable  piece  of  artillery,  so 
promptly  manufactured,  and  christened  ;  Long  Tom/  could 
be  slewed  round  like  a  teetotum. 

"  This  work  was  soon  accomplished,  for  when  a  man's  life 
is  at  stake,  it  is  astonishing  how  lively  he  works ;  all  his 
faculties  seem  sharpened,  and  he  becomes  endowed  with  ten 
fold  more  ingenuity,  skill,  intellect,  and  muscle,  than  he 
ever  before  dreamed  of  possessing. 

"While  the  process  of  manufacturing  a  live  twenty-four- 
pounder  was  going  on,  another  change,  almost  as  great,  was 
taking  place  in  another  quarter.  Agreeably  to  a  hint  from 
Captain  Duncannon,  caps,  tarpaulin  hats,  and  checked 
shirts,  were  in  demand,  and  almost  before  a  leadsman  could 
sing  out,  *  By  the  deep  nine/  the  eight  passengers,  and  as 
*many  handspikes,  were  transformed  into  sixteen  trig-looking 
sailors,  all  of  them,  apparently,  ready  and  able  to  fight  des 
perately  for  their  lives.  The  ladies  were  frightened,  it  must 
be  confessed,  and  looked  shockingly  pale,  and  two  of  them 
could  hardly  stand  without  assistance.  Nevertheless,  they 
and  .the  masquerading  handspikes  were  stationed  at  points 
where  they  could  show  to  the  most  advantage,  and  helped  to 
swell  the  numbers  of  the  crew  to  a  very  respectable  extent. 

"  The  transformation  effected,  and  Long  Tom  finished, 
Captain  Duncannon  ordered  a  barrel,  with  the  head  knocked 
out,  to  be  placed  in  the  waist,  and  stationed  three  men  near 
it  with  the  loaded  muskets,  and  orders  to  put  the  muzzles 
within  the  barrels,  and,  when  the  word  was  given,  fire  !  He 
also  stationed  a  couple  of  men  in  the  top-mast  cross-trees, 
each  with  a  bucket  of  dry  ashes,  with  instructions  to 


THE   WORK  OF  DEMONS.  137 

empty  the  buckets  and  scatter  the  ashes  in  every  direction, 
the  moment  the  order  to  fire  was  given. 

"  By  this  time  the  suspicious-looking  vessel,  that  glided 
through  the  water  like  a  dolphin  after  a  ballyhoo,  had  ap 
proached  within  a  mile  of  the  Dandelion,  and,  with  his  spy 
glass,  Captain  Duncannon  could  see  all  the  doings  on  deck, 
which  left  no  doubt  on  his  mind  that  the  vessel  was  a  pirate, 
well  armed,  and  with  her  decks  full  of  men. 

"  He  saw  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  and,  after  a  word  of 
encouragement  to  the  green  hands  he  had  just  shipped,  he 
gave  orders  to  jibe  ship.  The  main  peak  was  dropped,  the 
helm  put  a-starboard,  and  the  top-sail  yard  squared;  the 
schooner  fell  off  rapidly,  soon  took  the  breeze  on  the  other 
quarter,  and  in  a  minute  and  a  half  was  standing  to  the  east 
ward,  nearly  close-hauled,  and  the  pirate  about  four  points 
on  the  weather-bow.  '  Long  Tom '  was  plainly  in  sight  from 
the  pirate's  decks  ;  also  the  somewhat  numerous  crew,  sta 
tioned  in  groups  at  different  points,  and  apparently  ready, 
not  only  to  repel  boarders,  but,  when  the  time  came,  to 
board  in  their  turn. 

"  At  this  critical  moment  Captain  Duncannon  wared  his 
hand  ostentatiously,  as  if  to  command  attention,  and  shout 
ed,  in  a  loud  voice,  '  FIRE  ! '  The  muskets  were  discharged 
into  the  empty  barrels,  making  a  loud  reverberating  noise, 
and  at  the  same  moment  the  ashes  were  scattered  in  mid-air 
by  the  sailors  in  the  cross-trees  ;  and  the  imitation  of  a  vast 
volume  of  smoke,  belching  forth  from  the  muzzle  of  Long 
Tom,  was  perfect. 

"  The  stars  and  stripes  were  now  proudly  waving  from  the 
peak,  and  Long  Tom  was  trailed  and  managed,  as  if  with 
the  intention  of  giving  the  pirate  a  shot  in  earnest.  But 
this  was  hardly  necessary.  The  smoke  had  not  cleared 
away,  before  the  pirate,  who,  believing  he  '  had  caught  a 

Tartar/  and  was  terribly  frightened  at  such  a  display  of  war- 
02* 


138  MARK  ROWLAND. 

like  force  and  courage,  tacked  ship,  clapped  on  all  sail,  and 
made  tracks  for  the  Salt-Key  Bank  as  fast  as  possible, 
doubtless  expecting  every  minute  to  be  hailed  by  a  twenty- 
four-pound  shot  from  the  muzzle  of  Long  Tom. 

"  The  shot  was  not  sent.  The  Dandelion  continued  the 
pursuit  a  short  time,  and  then  resumed  her  course.  Long 
Livingston  was  released  from  his  confinement  to  the  plank, 
and  highly  and  deservedly  complimented  for  the  admirable 
and  successful  manner  in  which  he  had  enacted  the  impor 
tant  part  allotted  him  in  the  engagement  with  the  pirates ; 
the  handspikes  were  stripped  of  their  hats  and  jackets ;  the 
ladies  doffed  their  sailor's  garbs,  and  resumed  their  more 
comely  feminine  attire,  and  .one  of  them,  a  lively,  laughing, 
frolicsome  girl  of  eighteen  summers,  who  had  been  terribly 
frightened  during  the  chase,  was  so  impressed  with  the  mag 
nitude  of  her  obligations  to  Long  Livingston,  that  she 
reached  up  her  white  arms,  and,  clasping  him  around  the 
neck,  gave  him  a  hearty  kiss.  Livingston  was  astonished, 
and  grinned  with  delight  at  such  a  rich  and  unexpected 
mark  of  approbation,  and  declared  himself  fully  repaid  for 
all  the  inconvenience  he  had  suffered  from  being  so  long 
lashed  to  a  plank.  The  next  day  we  arrived  safely  in  Ma- 
tanzas." 

"  There  is  nothing  like  wisdom  gained  from  experience," 
was  the  sententious  remark  of  Mr.  Digges.' 

"  Yes,"  remarked  Mr.  Hawkins  ;  "  experience  and  sound, 
practical,  old-fashioned,  common  sense  will  do  wonders 
sometimes." 

On  the  day  after  the  adventure  with  the  pirate,  in  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon,  one  of  the  men  at  work  on  the  fore 
castle  shouted  aloud,  "  Sail  ho !  On  the  lee  bow !  " 

The  sail  was  soon  made  out  to  be  a  brig,  not  more  than 
five  or  six  miles  off,  and  her  -appearance  was  quite  remark 
able  and  alarming.  She  seemed  to  be  steering  no  particular 


THE   WORK   OF   DEMONS.  139 

course,  but  was  not  lying-to.  Her  sails  were  flying  loose  in 
every  direction ;  her  maintop-mast  was  broken  short  off  in 
the  middle, ;  her  studding-booms  were  still  rigged  out  for 
ward,  with  the  studding  sails  hanging  in  mid-air.  The  brig 
was  abandoned  to  the  winds  and  the  waves ;  there  was 
clearly  no  controlling  power  on  board. 

Captain  Lamark  took  a  keen  survey  of  the  brig  through 
his  glass,  and  then  mused  for  a  few  minutes  in  silence,  when 
his  eye  kindled,  and  an  unwonted  expression  of  ferocity 
rested  on  his  features. 

"What  do  you  make  her  out  to  be,  sir?"  inquired  Mr. 
Digges.  "  She  seems  to  be  acting  rather  queerly." 

k<  There's  more  there  than  meets  the  eye,"  said  Mr.  Haw 
kins. 

"  There  is,  indeed ! "  remarked  Captain  Lamark,  in  a  deep 
and  solemn  tone.  "  That  brig  has  been  boarded  by  pirates!" 
and  turning  round,  he  called  aloud  to  the  helmsman,  "  Keep 
her  off,  Jack,  two  or  three  points.  So !  That  will  do. 
Steer  directly  for  that  vessel  ahead.  Mr.  Digges,  we'll  take 
a  pull  of  the  weather-braces." 

"  But,  Captain  Lamark,"  said  Mr.  Digges,  in  a  remon 
strating  tone,  "  don't  you  think  there  may  be  danger  in " 

"Brace  in  the  yards,  Mr.  Digges!"  responded  the  cap 
tain,  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  "  Danger  !  "Who  cares  for  dan 
ger  in  a  time  like  this  ?  I  tell  you  that  the  pirate  we  fell  in 
with  yesterday  has  been  busy  at  his  bloody  work ;  but  we 
may  not  be  too  late  to  save  the  lives  of  some  of  his  unfortu 
nate  victims." 

The  Rosamond  with  a  free  wind  now  went  rapidly  through 
the  water,  and  in  little  more  than  half  an  hour  had  approached 
almost  within  hail  of  the  brig ;  but  not  a  human  being  was 
seen  on  her  decks ;  yet  ever  and  anon  a  loud  and  prolonged 
moan,  half  scream  and  half  howl,  a  most  unearthly  and 


140  MARK  ROWLAND. 

uncanny  sound,  came  across  the  water  from  the  direction  of 
the  brig,  and  sent  a  chill  through  every  heart. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  that  wild  and  hideous  cry?" 
exclaimed  the  captain. 

"  It  is  hard  to  say,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Hawkins  ;  "  but  with 
your  leave  I'll  go  and  see." 

Orders  were  now  given  to  heave  the  ship  to;  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  second  mate,  with  four  stout  sailors,  in  the 
ship's  yawl,  was  rapidly  going  towards  the  brig.  As  they 
drew  near,  shot-holes  in  the  counter,  and  the  shattered  con 
dition  of  the  bulwarks,  as  well  as  the  broken  top-mast  and 
fluttering  sails,  all  told  a  fearful  tale  which  could  not  be 
misunderstood  of  a  running  fight  and  a  desperate  but  boot 
less  resistance. 

The  loud  unnatural  sound,  an  unequivocal  signal  of  dis 
tress,  which  had  been  heard  from  time  to  time  before  the 
boat  left  the  brig,  was  now  kept  up  without  ceasing,  and 
became  frightfully  discordant.  The  men  looked  hard  at  Mr. 
Hawkins,  and  slackened  their  labors  as  if  wishing  and 
expecting  him  to  forego  his  intention  to  board  the  brig. 

But  the  ma.te  seemed  all  the  more  eager  to  be  alongside. 
"  Give  way,  my  lads,  and  never  heed  that  noise,"  said  he, 
encouragingly.  "  Music  like  that,  although  it  grates  harshly 
on  the  ear,  can  break  no  bones  !  Ah !  I  understand  it  all 
now !  There  is  one  honest  fellow  alive  on  board  that  brig, 
at  all  events  ;  and  he  is  telling. us  in  his  way  a  woful  story." 

The  men  turned  their  heads  towards  the  brig,  and  their 
fears  vanished,  when  they  saw  standing  with  his  fore-paws 
on  the  taffrail  and  stretching  his  head  over  the  water  towards 
the  boat,  a  large  black  Newfoundland  dog,  whose  incessant 
cries  and  howls  had  been  the  cause  of  their  alarm. 

"  There  has  been  terrible  work  here ! "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Hawkins,  as  the  boat  ranged  alongside  the  brig. 

At  that  moment  the  dog  leaped  over  the  bulwarks,  and 


THE   WORK   OF   DEMONS.  141 

came  tumbling  down  into  the  boat,  and  sprang  upon  the 
men,  licking  their  faces,  wagging  his  tail  and  yelping  with 
delight. 

"Harry  Linsay,"  said  the  mate,  "stay  in  the  boat  and 
take  care  of  her.  The  rest  of  you,  follow  me !  "  and  he 
climbed  up  the  side  of  the  brig  and  over  the  bulwarks,  closely 
followed  by  the  men. 

And  a  dreadful  sight  they  beheld,  A  bloody  conflict  had 
taken  place.  The  scuppers  were  even  then  streaming  with 
gore.  The  bodies  of  four  men  lay  about  the  decks  disfigured 
with  ghastly  gun-shot  or  sabre  wounds.  Two  men,  probably 
officers  of  .the  brig,  were  found  each  lashed  to  a  plank,  which 
had  been  set  in  an  upright  position  and  secured  to  the  fife- 
rail,  and  made  to  serve  as  living  targets  for  the'pirates.  The 
heads  and  bodies  were  perforated  with  dozens  of  pistol 
bullets. 

The  long-boat  had  been  removed,  and  the  hatchways  taken 
off.  The  cargo  had  been  broken  into.  The  cabin  doors 
were  open,  and  Mr.  Hawkins,  after  asking  in  a  loud  voice  if 
there  was  any  living  person  on  board,  and  receiving  no 
reply,  passed  down  the  cabin  stairs  into  the  cabin.  On  the 
cabin  floor,  near  the  doorway,  lay  the  body  of  a'  man,  whose 
dress  and  appearance  indicated  that  he  was  the  captain  of 
the  brig.  His  arms  were  pinioned,  and  his  throat  was  cut 
from  ear  to  ear. 

Scattered  over  the  floor  were  a  woman's  garments,  and  on 
the  farther  part  of  the  cabin  floor,  at  the  entrance  of  a  state 
room,  was  the  dead  body  of  a  woman,  young  and  beautiful, 
almost  entirely  destitute  of  clothing,  with  a  deep  wound  in 
her  bosom,  her  long  hair  dishevelled  and  dabbled  in  blood, 
and  an  expression  of  horror  on  her  features,  which  once  seen 
could  never  be  forgotten. 

The  cabin  had  been  ransacked  by  the  pirates  ;  trunks  and 
chests  broken  open,  and  doubtless  everything  of  value 


142  MARK  ROWLAND. 

/ 

carried  away.  Mr.  Hawkins  found  the  log-book  on  th& 
transom,  from  which  it  appeared  that  the  brig  was  the 
Angelica,  Captain  Melton,  belonging  to  Bristol,  in  England, 
and  bound  from  Montevideo  to  London.  It  appeared,  ac 
cording  to  the  latest  date  in  the  log-book,  that  hardly  eight- 
and-forty  hours  had  elapsed  since  the  pirates,  after  a  des 
perate  engagement,  for  tjie  brig  carried  two  carriage-guns, 
and  probably  was  well  furnished  with  muskets,  gained  pos 
session  of  the  vessel,  killed  or  threw  overboard  all  her  crew, 
and  committed  other  outrages  too  atrocious  to  record. 

The  brig  appeared  to  be  in  a  sinking  condition,  doubtless 
owing  to  a  shot  between  wind  and  water,  and  Mr.  Hawkins, 
finding  that  nothing  could  be  done  to  keep  her  afloat,  and 
that  all  the  unfortunate  men  who  composed  the  crew  had 
been  suddenly  sent  by  the  bloody-minded  wretches  to  render 
their  accounts  at  the  judgment-seat  of  God,  took  the  log-book 
under  his  arm,  ordered  the  men,  who  had  been  standing  on 
deck,  paralyzed  with  horror,  into  the  boat,  and  accompanied 
by  the  faithful,  terrified,  half-starved  Newfoundland  dog, 
returned  to  the  ship. 

Captain  Lamark  listened  in  silence  to  Mr.  Hawkins,  while 
he  narrated  the  shocking  scenes  he  had  witnessed  on  board 
the  brig.  He  was  greatly  moved,  and  shuddered  as  he 
thought  how  narrowly  he  himself  and  the  gallant  men  who 
composed  his  crew,  and  looked  to  him  for  advice  and  pro 
tection,  had  escaped  a  similar  fate.  "  Mr.  Hawkins,"  said 
he,  suddenly,  "  the  brig  will  doubtless  soon  be  full  of  water ; 
but  it  does  not  follow  that  the  hulk  will  immediately  sink. 
If  there  is  a  buoyant  cargo  in  the  hold,  it  may  be  floating 
about  for  months,  to  the  great  danger  of  vessels  navigating 
these  seas.  Besides,  such  a  terrible  evidence  of  human 
wickedness,  ought  to  be  removed  from  the  sight  of  day  as 
soon  as  possible.  Therefore,  man  the  boat  once  more  and 


THE  WORK   OP  DEMONS.  143 

go  back  to  that  ill-fated  vessel ;  take  a  lantern  with  you,  and 
set  her  on  fire." 

The  captain's  orders  were  promptly  obeyed ;  and  when  the 
boat  left  the  ling  the  second  time,  smoke  was  seen  issuing 
from  various  parts  of  the  vessel,  and  soon  a  livid  stream  of 
light  crept  aloft,  and  the  whole  vessel  was  in  flames. 

The  Rosamond  stood  on  her  course  towards  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope ;  but  long  after  the  sun  had  sank  beneath  the 
horizon,  the  light  of  the  burning  vessel  could  be  seen  illu 
minating  the  atmosphere  and  the  surface  of  the  water  for 
miles  around.  But  through  the  night  a  cloud  rested  on  the 
minds  of  the  crew  of  the  ship  ;  and  silent  prayers  went  up  to 
heaven  for  the  souls  of  those  who  had  been  so  ruthlessly 
murdered,  and  grateful  thanksgivings  for  their  own  preser 
vation  from  a  terrible  death  at  the  hands  of  the  pirates. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  WAIF   ON    THE  WATERS. 

THE  Rosamond  continued  her  course  to  the  southward, 
close-hauled  on  the  wind,  which  for  several  days  blew  stead 
ily  from  the  south-east.  But  soon  after  leaving  the  tropics 
the  trade-wind  failed,  and  variable  winds  exerted  their 
power.  Mr.  Hawkins,  in  the  night  watches,  pointed  out 
and  explained  to  Mark  Rowland  the  marked  changes  in  the 
aspect  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ;  the  splendid  constellation  of 
the  Southern  Cross,  and  those  wild  and  weird-looking  phe 
nomena  known  as  the  Magellan  clouds.  The  cape  pigeons 
also  began  to  come  round  the  ship,  and  with  a  hook  baited 
with  a  piece  of  pork,  and  attached  to  a  line  thrown  over  the 
stern,  several  of  the  foolish  birds  were  caught,  and  served  up 
in  a  sea-pie,  which  was  not  altogether  to  the  liking  of  Mark, 
for  it  had  a  most  ancient  and  fish-like  flavor.  As  they  drew 
towards  the  cape,  the  large,  stately-looking  albatrosses, 
some  with  wings  extending  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  across  from 
tip  to  tip,  were  numerous,  flying  or  floating  in  the  wake  of 
the  ship,  hoping,  and  not  always  in  vain,  to  pick  up  savory 
morsels  that  had  been  thrown  overboard. 

One  afternoon,  as  the  ship  was  quietly  proceeding  on  her 
way  with  a  fair  wind  and  a  smooth  sea,  the  man  at  the 
wheel  created  quite  a  sensation  by  crying  out,  "  A  shark !  " 
and  on  looking  in  the  direction  in  which  he  pointed,  the  dor 
sal  fin  and  part  of  the  tail  of  a  large  fish  were  seen  above 
the  water. 

144 


A  WAIF   ON  THE   WATERS.  145 

"Where's  the  shark-hook?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hawkins, 
with  his  accustomed  energy  ;  "  cook,  bring  along  a  piece  of 
pork  from  the  harness-cask." 

The  captain,  corning  on  deck  at  that  moment,  put  a  damp 
er  on  the  ardor  of  the  second  mate.  "  Tis  of  no  use,  Mr. 
Hawkins,"  said  he,  after  taking  a  look  at  the  strange  fish. 
"  That  is  no  shark,  but  a  sword-fish ;  and  they  seldom  take 
the  hook." 

Mr.  Hawkins,  however,  baited  the  hook  and  threw  it  over 
board,  and  towed  it  astern  for  a  while,  but  it  had  no  attrac 
tions  for  the  stranger,  who  swam  along  near  the  surface,  in 
a  course  parallel  to  that  of  the  ship,  and  eight  or  ten  fath 
oms  off,  for  a  few  minutes,  and,  then  disappeared,  to  the 
great  disappointment  and  disgust  of  the  mate,  who  took  in 
tense  delight  in  hooking  or  spearing  the  prowling  inhab 
itants  of  the  deep. 

About  two  hours  afterwards,  just  at  the  beginning  of  twi 
light,  the  ship  experienced  a  sudden  shock,  as  if  the  bottom 
had  come  in  contact  with  some  hard  substance.  Every  man 
felt  the  jar,  and  sprang  to  his  feet ;  while  those  who  were 
below  hastened  on  deck.  Captain  Lamark  rushed  up  from 
the  cabin,  and,  addressing  the  two  officers,  who  were  stand 
ing  on  the  quarter-deck,  said,  "  Mr.  Digges,  Mr.  Hawkins, 
what  does  this  mean?  Has  the  ship  struck  a  rock,  or  a 
shoal,  or  a  sunken  wreck?  Get  up  the  deep  sea-lead,  and 
we  will  take  a  sound." 

In  a  few  minutes,  while  Mr.  Hawkins  was  'getting  in 
readiness  the  sounding  apparatus,  the  captain  remarked  in  a 
more  quiet  tone,  "It  is  hardly^ worth  while  to  sound,  for 
there  is  no  sign  of  breakers,  and,  if  there  is  any  truth  in  the 
charts,  there  is  neither  rock  nor  shoal  within  hundreds  of 
miles." 

The  lead,  however,  was  thrown  overboard,  but  no  bottom 
was  found  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  fathoms  of  line. 

13 


146  MARK  ROWLAND. 

All  at  once  Captain  Lamark  struck  his  forehead  violently 
with  his  fist.  "  I  have  it  now  !  "  he  cried.  "  It  was  that 
confounded  sword-fish !  He  has  mistaken  the  peaceable  Ro 
samond  for  a  pugnacious  sperm  whale,  and,  with  his  horn, 
has  struck  the  bottom  of  the  ship  with  what  he  intended 
should  be  a  mortal  blow.  But  I  trust  he  has  got  the  worst 
of  it." 

That  evening  Mark  Rowland,  who  had  never  before  heard 
of  a  sword-fish,  and  whose  curiosity  was  greatly  excited, 
made  some  inquiries  of  Captain  Lamark  relative  to  the  ap 
pearance  and  habits  of  this  bold  animal,  which,  without  any 
provocation,  would  venture  to  attack  a  ship  or  a  whale. 

"  The  sword-fish,"  said  Captain  Lamark,  "  is  occasionally 
met  with  in  every  sea ;  but  more  frequently  on  soundings 
than  in  deep  water.  One  of  its  favorite  haunts  is  the  shoals 
off  the  island  of  Nantucket.  It  is  also  often  seen  on  St. 
George's  Bank.  It  is  quite  a  large  fish,  measuring  from 
nine  to  fifteen  feet  in  length,  and  sometimes  weighing  six 
hundred  pounds.  From  its  upper  jaw  a  horn,  or  sword,  as 
it  is  called,  projects  two  or  three  feet,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  fish,  and  gives  a  name  to  the  animal.  This  horn  is 
pointed,  and  is  composed  of  a  hard,  fibrous  substance,  bear 
ing  but  little  resemblance  to  ivory.  It  does  not  seem  to  be 
of  any  use  to  its  owner  in  procuring  food,  as  this  fish  feeds 
principally  on  mackerel,  herring,  flying-fish,  and  other  small 
Varieties  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  deep.  Nor  can  this  sword 
be  regarded  as  a  necessary  weapon  of  defence,  for  such  is 
the  size,  strength,  and  activity  of  the  sword-fish,  that  it 
need  fear  no  attack  from  any  fish  that  swims.  And  unless 
we  look  upon  it  as  an  ornament,  we  must  regard  it  as  a 
strictly  offensive  weapon,  as  it  probably  is. 

"  It  is  generally  believed  that  the  sword-fish  is  the  mortal 
enemy  of  the  whale,  and  attacks  him  with  great  fury,  with 
out  provocation,  whenever  they  meet,  plunging  his  sword 


A  WAIF   ON  THE   WATERS.  147 

into  the  throat  in  such  a  manner  that  the  water  is  soon  dyed 
red  with  the  blood  of  his  -victim,  whose  convulsive  exertions 
to  escape  from  his  vindictive  enemy  are  vain ;  and,  con 
quered  by  a  comparatively  weak  and  humble  opponent,  he 
dies  ignobly. 

"  This  is  an  unamiable  trait  in  the  character  of  the  sword- 
fish,  and  there  are  those  who  contend  that  injustice  is  done 
him  in  this  respect.  It  is  nevertheless  confirmed  by  the  fact 
that  the  sword-fish  will  sometimes  strike  the  bottom  of  a 
ship  with  great  violence,  which  can  only  be  accounted  for  on 
the  supposition  that  the  fish  mistakes  the  ship  for  some  huge 
monster  which  he  is  in  the  habit  of  regarding  as  a  mortal 
foe.  The  sword-fish  has  been  known  to  attack  a  ship  with 
such  desperate  violence  as  to  thrust  his  horn  through  the 
planks,  even  into  the  hold  of  the  vessel ;  but  as  the  fish  can 
not  disengage  it,  the  horn  of  course  is  broken  off,  doubtless 
greatly  to  the  rage  and  mortification  of  the  fish,  and  remains 
in  the  plank  into  which  he  had  so  unthinkingly  thrust  it, 
and  thus  plugs  up  the  hole  it  had  made. 

"The  fishermen  living  on  the  islands  lying  to  the  south 
ward  of  Cape  Cod,  take  a  considerable  number  of  sword-fish 
every  season.  As  this  fish  swims  near  the  surface,  and  his 
back-fin  sticks  sometimes  a  foot  out  of  water,  he  is  easily 
discovered.  Not  being  a  shy  fish,  he  is  generally  captured 
by  striking  him  with  a  harpoon,  to  which  a  strong  line  is  at 
tached,  a  feat  which  requires  considerable  skill ;  and  some 
times  he  is  taken  with  a  strong  line  and  halibut-hook,  using 
a  mackerel  for  bait.  The  flesh  of  the  sword-fish  is  consid 
ered  good  eating,  and  a  couple  of  hundred  barrels  are  taken 
every  year  by  the  fishermen  of  Nantucket  and  Martha's 
Vineyard,  cut  into  slices,  pickled,  or  salted  and  sold. 

"  I  have  no  doubt,"  said  Captain  Lamark,  in  concluding 
his  remarks  about  the  sword-fish,  "  that  when  we  discharge 


148  MARK  ROWLAND. 

our  cargo  in  Table  Bay,  we  shall  find  a  sword  as  long  as 
my  arm  sticking  in  the  ship's  bottom ! " 

And  the  captain  was  not  far  out  of  the  way.  "When  the 
cargo  was  discharged  it  was  found  difficult  to  disengage 
from  its  resting-place  on  the  ceiling,  near  the  kelson,  a  large 
box  containing  furniture.  When  it  was  at  last  wrenched 
away,  it  was  found  that  the  horn  of  the  sword-fish  had 
passed  through  the  copper  sheathing  of  the  ship  and  a  three- 
inch  oak  plank,  between  a  couple  of  timbers,  and  through 
another  plank,  two  and  a  half  inches  in  thickness,  and  had 
penetrated  the  box,  pinning  a  bureau  to  the  position  as 
signed  it  by  the  stevedores. 

As  the  Rosamond  approached  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the 
weather,  which  had  been  tempestuous,  became  moderate, 
with  light  breezes  from  the  eastward.  Such  weather  Vas 
unusual  in  that  quarter,  and  did  not  correspond  with  the 
name  given  to  it  by  that  bold  navigator,  Bartholomew  Diaz, 
who  discovered  it  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and  in  conse 
quence  of  the  furious  tempests  which  continually  raged  in 
that  vicinity,  called  it  Cabo  Tormentoso,  the  Cape  of 
Storms. 

One  day,  when  about  a  couple  of  days'  sail  from  Cape 
Town,  and  just  as  Captain  Lamark  had  proclaimed  that  it 
was  twelve  o'clock,  and  Mr.  Hawkins  had  ordered  the  cook 
to  give  the  men  their  dinner,  Jack  Radkin,  who  was  at  the 
wheel,  said  to  the  captain,  in  a  tone  tremulous  through  ex 
citement,  "  Captain  Lamark,  there  is  something  in  the  water, 
there  ahead.  I  believe  it  is  a  boat !  " 

The  captain  called  to  the  steward  for  his  spy-glass,  and 
ran  forward  to  the  forecastle  to  obtain  a  better  view.  The 
object  proved  to  be  a  boat  floating  on  the  water,  not  half  a 
mile  off,  and  directly  ahead.  As  no  persons  were  seen  in 
the  boat,  an  idea  prevailed  that  it  must  be  a  ship's  yawl, 
which  perhaps  was  washed  away  from  the  davits  in  a  gale 


A  WAIF   ON  THE  WATERS.  149 

of  wind.  Nevertheless,  Captain  Lamark  very  properly  de 
termined  to  pass  as  closely  to  it  as  possible,  and  slacken 
sail,  that  he  might  inspect  it  more  thoroughly.  Accord 
ingly,  the  courses  were  hauled  up,  and  the  top-gallant  sails 
settled  down  on  the  caps. 

This  was  hardly  done,  when  a  man's  hat  was  seen  to  rise 
slowly  above  the  gunwale  of  the  boat,  and  be  gently  waved, 
while  the  man  himself  could  not  be  seen.  The  sensation 
among  the  crew  of  the  Rosamond,  caused  by  this  action,  can 
hardly  be  conceived.  The  feeble  wave  of  the  hat,  by  the 
hardly  uplifted  hand,  told  a  thrilling  tale  of  long  suffering, 
starvation,  and  helplessness. 

"  Mr.  Hawkins,"  said  Captain  Lamark,  "  take  a  couple  of 
hands  and  clear  away  the  stern-boat,  and  get  it  all  ready  to 
be  lowered.  And  stand  by,  men,  to  lay  the  main  topsail  to 
the  mast." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  ship's  progress  through  the  water 
was  stopped,  and  the  fugitive  boat  was  under  the  lee  but  a 
few  fathoms  distant.  At  this  moment,  a  human  head  was 
lifted  above  the  gunwale,  and  a  human  countenance  was 
exhibited,  at  the  sight  of  which  every  man  shuddered  with 
horror.  The  features  were  ghastly  pale,  wrinkled,  almost 
fleshless,  and  distorted  with  agony ;  the  eyes  were  preter- 
naturally  large,  bloodshot,  and  glaring,  giving  an  expression 
to  the  features  which  seemed  the  very  incarnation  of  despair 
and  insanity. 

As  the  ship  was  slowly  surging  past,  Mr.  Digges  threw  a 
rope  into  the  boat,  and  told  the  man  to  lay  hold  of  it ;  but 
the  wretched  being  was  too  weak  to  make  the  slightest  effort 
for  the  preservation  of  his  life.  A  moment  afterwards,  and 
Mr.  Hawkins  was  alongside  the  boat  in  the  ship's  yawl.  He 
found  it  half  full  of  water,  and  the  dead  body  of  a  man  in  a 
sailor's  dress  was  washing  about  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
while  the  miserable  object  which  had  exhibited  signs  of  life, 

13* 


150  MAtfK  ROWLAND. 

reclining  on  the  after-thwart,  in  vain  attempted  to  speak,  but 
could  only  indicate  by  signs  that  his  throat  was  too  parched 
to  utter  an  articulate  sound. 

With  great  care  and  no  little  difficulty,  Mr.  Hawkins  suc 
ceeded  in  transferring  the  living  skeleton  to  the  yawl,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  he  was  conveyed  to  the  ship,  passed  up  the 
gangway,  and  safely  landed  on  the  quarter-deck.  Eestora- 
tives  were  promptly  administered,  and  small  quantities  of 
nourishing  food ;  and  under  the  judicious  management  of 
Captain  Lamark,  the  poor  suffering  sailor,  who,  when  fallen 
in  with,  seemed  in  the  very  last  extremity,  gradually  recov 
ered  his  health.  Some  days,  however,  elapsed  before  he  was 
able  to  give  a  connected  sketch  of  the  circumstances  which 
brought  him  to  the  unhappy  condition  from  which  he  was  so 
providentially  rescued. 

It  appeared,  from  his  account,  that  his  name  was  James 
Maltby,  and  that  he  belonged  to  an  English  brig  lying  at 
anchor  in  Table  Bay.  One  Sunday  afternoon,  Maltby  and 
a  shipmate  named  Edward  Cope  obtained  leave  of  the  mate 
to  go  ashore  in  the  small  boat,  on  condition  of  returning  in 
the  course  of  an  hour.  But  on  shore  they  fell  in  with  some 
jovial  companions,  freely  partook  of  the  intoxicating  cup, 
forgot  their  promise  to  the  mate,  and  abandoned  themselves 
to  dissipation. 

The  approaching  darkness,  however,  reminded  them  of 
their  neglect  of  duty,  and  they  staggered  down  towards  the 
jetty,  and  entered  the  boat  with  the  intention  of  going  on 
board  the  brig.  Cope,  however,  was  too  far  gone  to  pull  an 
oar,  and  stretching  himself  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  soon 
fell  asleep.  Maltby  then  thrust  his  oar  over  the  stern  and 
began  to  scull,  but  making  a  false  movement,  he  lost  over 
board  his  oar.  He  then  relinquished  all  further  efforts  to 
reach  the  brig,  and  followed  the  example  of  his  companion. 
The  boat  drifted  out  to  sea,  and  on  awakening  to  a  sense  of 


A  WAIF   ON  THE   WATERS.  151 

their  condition,  the  next  morning,  the  two  men  found  them 
selves  eight  or  ten  miles  from  the  land,  with  the  wind  off 
shore,  without  sails  or  a  scrap  of  provisions,  and  with  only 
one  oar  to  aid  them  in  returning  to  Table.  Bay.  They  con 
tinued  in  sight  of  the  high  mountains  abo'ut  the  cape  for  two 
days,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day  found  themselves 
in  the  midst  of  the  South  Atlantic  Ocean,  no  land  in  sight, 
destitute  of  food  or  drink,  without  a  compass,  and  drifting 
about  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves. 

This  was  only  the  beginning  of  their  sufferings,  which 
were  soon  greater  than  one  would  suppose  human  nature 
could  bear.  Once  or  twice  they  caught  a  little  water,  when 
it  rained,  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat ;  but  it  Was  so  mixed 
with  salt  water,  that  it  tended  rather  to  increase  than  as 
suage  their  thirst.  After  having  been  five  days  on  tjie 
water,  and  meeting  with  no  vessel,  they  gave  up  all  hope, 
and  resolved  to  meet,  with  due  resignation,  the  dreadful 
death  that  seemed  inevitable,  comforting  themselves  with 
the  reflection  that  the  boat  would  probably  be  picked  up, 
and  their  dead  bodies  prove  that  they  did  not  wilfully  desert 
from  their  vessel.  They  pledged  themselves  to  each  other 
by  the  most  solemn  oaths,  that  if  one  died  before  the  other, 
the  survivor  would  not  feast  on  the  body  of  his  shipmate. 

Another  day  passed,  when  the  boat,  which  had  hitherto 
proved  staunch,  sprung  aleak,  and  Maltby  made  an  effort  to 
bale  out  the  water  with  his  hat.  But  Cope  gave  himself  up 
to  despair ;  his  reason  at  length  deserted  him ;  cramps  seized 
his  limbs ;  he  was  the  picture  of  famine,  the  prey  of  a  de 
vouring  fever ;  his  mouth  foamed,  his  tongue  was  swollen  to 
a  frightful  size,  and  his  eyes  lost  all  their'  brilliancy.  On 
the  seventh  day,  Cope  made  a  convulsive  effort  to  throw 
himself  out  of  the  boat,  and  was  with  difficulty  prevented 
by  Maltby.  He  then  sunk  down  beneath  the  thwarts  and 
expired. 


152  MARK  ROWLAND. 

Maltby  had  not  strength  enough  to  remove  the  dead  body 
of  his  shipmate,  or  even  to  bale  out  the  boat,  but  remained 
in  one  position  in  the  stern-sheets,  leaning  against  the  after- 
thwart,  until  the  following  day,  in  full  possession  of  his 
senses,  however,  and  mentally  praying  to  God  to  relieve  him 
from  his  sufferings,  and  forgive  his  sins  ;  and  on  the  eighth 
day  after  having  been  driven,  out  to  sea,  and  twenty-six 
hours  after  his  shipmate  had  breathed  his  last,  he  lifted  his 
eyes,  his  head  being  even  with  the  gunwale,  and  saw  a  ship 
heading  towards  him.  His  heart,  which  had  almost  ceased 
to  beat,  fluttered  with  a  feeling  of  hope.  He  was  unable  to 
rise,  but  he  lifted  his  hat  and  feebly  waved  it  as  a  signal. 

A  heavy  penalty  did  these  two  men  pay  for  indulging  in 
intemperate  habits.  JMaltby  declared  that  he  had  learned  a 
lesson  which  would  be  of  priceless  value  to  him  through  life. 
And  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  he  religiously  kept  his  promise, 
that  he  would  ever  after  abstain  from  all  intoxicating  drinks. 

That  night,  in  the  middle  watch,  Mark  Eowland,  while 
walking  the  deck  with  Mr.  Hawkins,  gave  utterance  to  the 
thoughts  that  were  uppermost  in  his  mind  connected  with 
the  adventure  of  the  previous  day,  and  made  eager  inquiries 
of  that  worthy  officer  if  he  had  ever  met  with  a  case  of  the 
kind  in  his  long  experience  at  sea. 

"  Such  cases  are  by  no  means  uncommon,  Mark,"  said  Mr. 
Hawkins.  "  Boats  and  small  vessels  are  sometimes  driven 
out  of  harbors  and  away  from  coasts,  when  they  are  al 
together  unprepared  for  such  a  misfortune.  But  if  not 
swamped  in  the  gale  which  sent  them  adrift,  they  are  usu 
ally  picked  up-  before  the  men  undergo  much  suffering.  I 
never  met  with  but  one  case  of  the  kind,  and  that  was  an 
exception  to  the  general  rule.  The  vessel,  for  it  was  not  a 
boat,  had  been  drifting  about  more  than  six  months  before 
it  was  picked  up." 


A   WAIF   ON    THE    WATERS.  153 

"  Six  months !  "  cried  Mark ;  "  and  were  there  men  on 
board  of  her  during  the  whole  of  that  time  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  I'll  tell  you  how  it  happened.  I  once  made 
a  voyage  from  Boston  to  San  Francisco  in  the  ship  Mandril, 
after  a  cargo  of  hides.  In  the  Pacific  Ocean,  not  far  from 
the  coast,  in  latitude  of  about  forty  degrees,  we  fell  in  with 
a  Japanese  junk,  with  three  men  on  board,  who  were  in  a 
truly  distressed  condition.  I  was  one  of  the  men  who  went 
with  the  officer  to  examine  the  wreck. 

"  The  state  of  affairs  on  board  looked  dark  and  gloomy 
enough.  The  junk  was  only  about  thirty  tons  burden,  and 
had  on  board  part  of  a  cargo  of  rice,  a  large  portion  of 
which  had  been  soaked  in  the  salt  water  and  spoiled.  She 
was  covered  with  barnacles  of  monstrous  size,  and  a  sort  of 
clams  from  two  to  five  inches  jln  length.  Her  masts  had 
been  carried  away  by  the  deck ;  her  rudder  was  also  gone ; 
she  leaked  badly ;  and  ropes  had  been  strapped  around  and 
around  her  to  keep  her  from  foundering.  There  was  little 
else  on  board  excepting  the  rice  in  the  hold,  and  a  few  arti 
cles  belonging  to  the  men.  There  were  in  a  cask  a  few  gal 
lons  of  rain  water,  that  had  been  caught  in  a  shower,  but  no 
food  of  any  description,  besides  the  rice,  excepting  a  few 
strips  of  shark  they  nad  lately  caught,  and  which  showed 
strong  symptoms  of  decay.  Nevertheless,  the  men  who 
constituted  her  crew  seemed  in  pretty  good  health,  and  able 
to  do  good  service  at  the  pump ;  otherwise  she  must  have 
gone  down  long  before  we  fell  in  with  her. 

"  We  took  from  her  half  a  dozen  bags  of  the  best  rice,  a 
few  pieces  of  rope,  the  three  men,  who  rejoiced  exceedingly 
ao  being  rescued  from  the  sinking  wreck,  and  returned  to 
the  ship.  The  junk  could  not  have  remained  above  water 
four-and-twenty  hours  longer.  Her  bottom  seemed  to  bo 
coming  to  pieces. 

"  It  appeared  from  facts  that  have  since  been  ascertained, 


154  MARK  ROWLAND. 

that  this  vessel  was  a  coasting  junk,  and  had  been  blown  off 
the  coast  and  dismasted  in  one  of  those  typhoons  which  are 
so  terribly  destructive  in  those  seas.  Knowing  nothing  of 
navigation  or  the  effects  of  currents  and  winds,  without 
even  a  compass,  and  destitute  of  masts  or  sails,  these  unfor 
tunate  Japanese  sailors  were  unable  to  make  any  exertions 
for  their  safety,  excepting  to  keep  their  frail  bark  afloat. 
The  heavy  gales  from  the  westward  and  currents  had  drifted 
them  to  the  eastward,  inasmuch  that,  while  they  remained 
in  nearly  the  same  parallel  of  latitude,  they  were  driven 
about  twenty-four  hundred  miles  in  one  hundred  and  ninety 
days  I  There  was  no  mistake  in  this,  for  one  of  the  men, 
who  acted  as  skipper,  kept  a  journal  from  the  time  he  lost 
sight  of  the  land,  until  fallen  in  with  by  the  Mandril. 

"  I  never  saw  gratitude  displayed  with  greater  warmth 
and  sincerity  than  by  these  poor  fellows.  On  our  way  home 
we  landed  them  at  Coquimbo,  whence,  I  since  learned,  they 
managed  after  a  while  to  find  means  of  returning  to  their 
own  country." 


CHAPTER  XHI. 

HOMEWAED   BOUND. 

SOON  after  the  ship  Rosamond  saved  poor  Maltby  from  a 
terrible  death,  a  heavy  easterly  gale  commenced,  which 
lasted  for  several  days.  When  the  gale  subsided,  the  high 
mountains  on  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  were  in  sight ;  and  on 
the  following  day  the  ship  entered  the  harbor  and  anchored 
in  Table  Bay. 

From  the  anchorage  in  this  remarkable  bay,  Mark  Row 
land  beheld  a  wide  and  varied,  a  novel  and  deeply  interest 
ing  scene.  There  were,  as  it  appeared,  spread  out  before 
him  the  many  vessels  of  different  nations  and  characters  at 
anchor  in  the  bay,  and  others  discharging  or  taking  in  car 
goes  at  the  quays ;  the  city  of  Cape  Town  itself,  with  its 
flat-roofed,  white  or  ruddy-colored  houses,  and  its  numerous 
towers  and  spires  ;  the  neat  villas  and  straw-colored  cottages 
stretching  along  back  of  the  city,  and  peeping  through  the 
dense  foliage  ;  the  grim  batteries  on  the  Lion's  Rump,  a  short 
distance  from  the  sea ;  on  each  side  of  the  city,  the  lofty 
crags  known  as  the  Devil's  Peak  and  the  Lion's  Head ;  and 
directly  back  of  Cape  Town  the  long,  lofty,  flat-topped  Table 
Mountain  itself,  destitute  of  vegetation,  and  rising  to  a 
height  of  thirty-six  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Nor  were  Mark's  astonishment  and  admiration  less  when 
he  landed,  and  traversed  the  streets  of  that  old  Dutch  city, 
and  saw  the  different  kinds  of  people,  and  especially  the 

155 

"X  . 


156  HOMEWARD   BOUND. 

many  varieties  of  the  African  race,  who  were  actively  en 
gaged  in  their  wonted  occupations.  He  saw  there  the  gen 
uine  Hottentot,  with  his  sooty  skin,  his  long  heels,  and  his 
protruding  lips ;  the  Bushman,  with  his  low  forehead  and 
expressionless  visage,  and  the  fierce-looking  Caffre,  with  his 
glittering  eye  and  savage  demeanor.  He  also  met  with  sev 
eral  unadulterated  descendants  of  the  old  Dutch  Boers, 
more  appropriately  called  Boors,  the  original  settlers  of  the 
Cape,  with  their  heavy  frames,  stolid  countenances,  coarse 
habits,  and  unprepossessing  manners,  freezing  at  the  foun 
tain  every  gush  of  social  intercourse. 

Mark  Rowland  did  not  go  far  enough  beyond  the  town  to 
encounter,  in  their  wild  state,  lions,  rhinoceroses,  hippopota 
muses,  antelopes,  camelopards,  elephants,  pythons,  or  even 
the  mischievous,  vindictive,  tailless,  and  hideous-looking  bab- 
boons,  which  are  often  seen  in  herds  in  the  vicinity  of  Table 
Mountain,  and  all  of  which  are  described  with  great  gusto 
by  veracious  travellers,  to  the  great  delight  of  wonder-lov 
ing  and  voracious  readers.  He  saw,  however,  in  Cape  Town 
itself,  many  specimens  ^  of  wild  animals  altogether  new  to 
him,  which  had  been  "caught,  cribbed, and  confined,"  and 
exhibited  for  show  or  for  sale.  Indeed,  he  saw  enough  to 
give  him  an  exalted  opinion  of  and  a  considerable  insight 
into  the  interesting  subject  of  natural  history. 

Mark  had  read  in  one  of  his  school-books  an  account  of  a 
heroic  act  of  an  inhabitant  of  Cape  Town  in  saving  the 
lives  of  men  belonging  to  a  vessel  that  was  shipwrecked  in 
the  Roads.  He  inquired  into  the  facts,  and  found  they  were 
all  true  as  related  by  Sparrman,  a  celebrated  traveller  and 
voyageur  in  the  last  century. 

The  incident  occurred  in  1775,  but  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  the  admirers  of  courage  and  benevolence.  A  Dutch  ship 
named  the  Jong  Thomas  was  at  anchor  in  the  bay  during 
the  inclement  season,  when  a  violent  storm  suddenly  com- 


MARK  ROWLAND.  157 

mcncecl,  and  the  heavy  waves  rushing  in  from  the  ocean 
forced  the  ship  from  her  anchors,  and  she  was  driven  ashore 
on  the  north  side  of  the  bay,  some  distance  from  the  beach. 
The  cries  of  the  mariners  were  distinctly  heard ;  but  the  sea 
washed  over  the  ship  with  such  fury  that  no  boat  could  live, 
and  some  who  attempted  to  swim  ashore  were  dashed  to 
pieces  on  the  rocks,  or  carried  back  by  the  refluent  wave  and 
drowned. 

The  ship  was  driven  ashore  soon  after  daylight  in  the 
morning,  and  intelligence  was  immediately  conveyed  to  the 
government  house,  when  a  small  military  force  was  promptly 
dispatched  to  the  seaside,  not  so  much  to  assist  in  saving 
life  as  to  prevent  the  pillage  of  such  portions  of  the  cargo 
as  might  be  washed  ashore.  It  happened  that  one  of  the 
keepers  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company's  menagerie, 
whose  name  was  Voltemad,  rode  out  of  the  town  on  a  large 
and  spirited  horse  to  carry  breakfast  to  his  son,  who  was  a 
corporal  in  the  company  stationed  on  the  beach.  He  was 
thus  an  early  witness  to  the  distressing  scene,  and,  moved 
by  a  generous  compassion,  though  he  could  not  swim,  he 
fixed  himself  firmly  on  his  noble  horse  and  swam  him  off  to 
the  ship.  Telling  some  of  the  crew  to  lay  hold  of  a  rope 
which  he  threw  to  them,  and  others  to  grasp  the  tail  of  his 
horse,  he  turned  about  and  carried  them  safely  to  the  shore. 
In  this  way  he  made  several  trips,  and  sared  a  considerable 
number  of  lives. 

At  last  this  bold  and  generous  man  fell  a  victim  to  his 
philanthropy.  His  horse  becoming  fatigued  with  such  unu 
sual  exertions,  he  waited  a  while  on  the  beach  for  the  animal 
to  rest.  But,  stimulated  by  the  cries  and  prayers  of  the 
unfortunate  men  on  board  the  ship,  he  hastened  to  their 
relief  before  the  horse  had  sufficiently  renewed  his  strength. 
It  also  happened,  unfortunately,  that  too  many  sought  to  be 

saved  at  the  same  time,  and  the  poor  animal,  with  his  bold 
i* 


158  MARK  ROWLAHD. 

rider  and  the  hapless  mariners,  who  were  clinging  to  the 
trappings  of  the  horse,  all  sunk,  and  were  seen  no  more. 

The  East  India  Directors  in  Holland  seem  to  have  appre 
ciated  the  noble  conduct  of  Voltemad.  On  receiving  intelli 
gence  of  the  affair,  they  ordered  one  of  their  ships  to  be 
called  after  his  name,  and  the  story  of  his  humanity  to  be 
inscribed  on  its  stern.  They  further  did  honor  to  themselves 
by  enjoining  their  agents  at  the  Cape  to  provide  for  the 
descendants  of  Voltemad,  in  case  there  were  any  such,  and 
put  them  in  a  way  of  speedily  and  effectually  making  their 
fortunes.  They  also  ordered  a  monument  to  be  erected  to 
the  memory  of  this  self-devoted  philanthropist. 

Unfortunately  for  the  young  corporal,  who  was  the  only 
child  of  Voltemad,  the  agents  of  the  Company  in  the  south 
ern  hemisphere  did  not  cherish  the  same  sentiments  of  grat 
itude.  This  young  man,  who  had  been  a  looker-on  while  his 
father  sacrificed  himself  in  the  service  of  the  Company  and 
of  mankind,  made  an  application  for  the  place  which  his  fa 
ther  had  held  in  the  menagerie,  humble  as  it  was.  His  appli 
cation  was  refused  !  Stung  by  the  disappointment,  he  imme 
diately  left  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  went  to  Batavia, 
hoping  to  find  better  fortunes  among  a  more  generous  people. 
Here  he  was  attacked  by  the  malignant  fever  incidental  to 
the  climate,  and  died  before  the  news  of  the  acknowledgment 
of  his  father's  services,  and  the  kind  feelings  of  the  Company 
towards  himself,  could  reach  him.  This  is  not  a  solitary 
instance  where  an  act  of  god-like  humanity  has  gone  unre 
quited  by  an  unfeeling  world.  » 

On  the  day  on  which  the  last  portion  of  the  cargo  of  the 
Rosamond  was  discharged,  Mr.  Digges  took  it  into  his  wise 
head  to  make  .a  great  display,  astonish  the  crews  of  the  for 
eign  ships  in  the  harbor,  and  let  them  know  that  an  Ameri 
can  "  can,  do  some  things  as  well  as  others." 

Preparations  were  made  accordingly.    A  big  gun,  charged 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  159 

with  a  double  allowance  of  powder,  was  to  be  fired;  at 
which  signal  the  American  ensign  was  to  be  hoisted  at  the 
spanker  peak,  the  flaunting  burgee,  with  the  eagle  and 
stars,  at  the  mizzen  sky-sail  masthead,  the  pennant  at  the 
main,  and  the  American  jack  at  the  fore  ;  and  at  the  same 
moment  the  last  bale  of  goods  was  to  be  hoisted  out  of  the 
hold,  and  run  up  to  the  main  yard-arm. 

The  arrangements  were  completed.  Every  man  was  at 
his  station,  and  Mr.  Digges,  in  high  glee,  standing  on  the 
quarter-deck  with  the  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  in  a  Stentor-like 
tone,  gave  the  word,  "  FIRE." 

The  gun  spoke  in  a  voice  like  thunder,  which,  of  course, 
made  the  Rosamond  the  observed  of  all  observers  ;  the  flags 
were  all  displayed,  and  the  last  bale  hoisted  out  agreeably 
to  the  programme,  and,  to  the  great  admiration  of  all  the 
foreigners  in  the  port,  who  could  hardly  understand  what 
Brother  Jonathan  would  be  at. 

It  so  happened  that  at  this  time  there  was  a  little  Pariah 
dog  on  board,  named  Trip,  —  a  timid,  harmless,  inoffensive 
animal,  a  great  favorite  with  the  captain.  Little  Trip  was 
standing  near  the  gun-carriage  at  the  forward  part  of  the 
main  deck,  attentively  watching  the  operations,  and  appar 
ently  wondering  at  what  was  going  on,  but  without  having 
the  slightest  suspicion  of  the  stunning  report  which  was 
about  to  salute  his  ears.  "When  the  gun  was  fired,  the  shock 
came  upon  him  with  terrible  effect.  It  actually  knocked  him 
over,  and  deprived  him  of  his  wits.  He  uttered  a  mournful 
howl,  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  ran  aft  the  whole  length  of  the 
deck,  with  the  fleetness  of  a  greyhound,  jumped  on  the  taff- 
rail,  and,  turning  his  head  for  a  second,  gave  a  terrified  look 
behind  him ;  then,  as  if  eager  to  escape  from  the  clutches  of 
some  imaginary  monster,  jumped  ten  or  fifteen  feet  over  the 
stern  into  the  water,  and  was  never  seen  afterwards. 

Captain  Lamark,  on  being  informed  of  the  fate  of  his 


160  MARK  ROWLAND. 

favorite  dog,  through  an  ill-timed  desire  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Digges  to  startle  the  good  people  in  Cape  Town  and  Table 
Bay,  and  make  a  noise  in  the  world,  was  quite  angry.  He 
severely  reprimanded  that  officer  for  indulging  such  ambi 
tious  impulses,  and  never  heartily  forgave  him  for  having 
made  such  a  fool  of  himself,  as  he  termed  it,  and  been  the 
cause  of  the  death  of  poor  Trip. 

Captain  Lamark,  finding  some  difficulty  in  procuring  the 
articles  of  merchandise  he  was  in  quest  of,  the  Rosamond 
was  detained  two  months  at  the  Cape.  Urged  by  the 
promptings  of  a  generous  nature,  the  captain  acted  as 
Mark's  agent  in  managing  and  investing  the  treasure  which 
our  hero  found  in  the  island  of  St.  Paul.  He  regarded  this 
as  a  sacred  trust,  and  purchased  on  Mark's  account  a  quan 
tity  of  wool,  wines,  and  hides,  which  he  put  on  board  the 
ship,  exacting,  of  course,  a  fair  freight,  and  assuring  Mark 
that  he  would  derive  a  good  profit  on  the  goods  on  arriving 
at  Boston. 

On  leaving  the  Cape,  Mark  Rowland  took  with  him  a  goat, 
with  a  grave  face,  long  curved  horns,  and  a  bushy  beard, 
whose  playful  ways  and  intelligence  he  was  greatly  charmed 
with,  and  which  he  intended  as  a  gift  to  his  sister  Ellen,  if 
he  should  be  so  fortunate  as  ever  to  reach  his  home  in  Glen- 
maple.  And  greatly  did  he  rejoice  when  the  sailors,  with 
the  jovial  song  of  "  Yeo  heave  O,"  handled  their  hand 
spikes,  and  lifted  the  ponderous  anchor  from  its  briny  rest 
ing-place  ;  and  the  good  old  ship  Rosamond,  to  which  by  this 
time  he  had  become  greatly  attached,  with  a  fine  breeze  and 
a  large  spread  of  canvas,  sailed  majestically  out  of  Table 
Bay,  the  remarkable  mountain,  with  its  level  summit,  every 
minute  lessening  in  the  distance,  and  in  a  few  hours  vanish 
ing  from  his  sight. 

And  now,  fairly  embarked  in  a  strong  ship,  with  a  favor 
able  wind,  after  meeting  with  adventures  which  had  devel- 


HOMEWARD    BOUND.  161 

oped  his  energies,  and  would  remain  indelibly  impressed  on 
his  memory  for  life,  the  thoughts  of  home  took  complete 
possession  of  his  mind.  His  mother  !  His  kind,  indulgent, 
ever  affectionate  mother !  who  was  so  unwilling  that  he 
should  leave  his  home,  and  brave  the  dangers  of  the  seas ! 
How  had  she  borne  his  long  absence  ?  Had  she  heard  of  his 
being  left  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul  ?  Had  she  given  him  up 
for  lost,  and  sunk  under  the  blow  ?  Had  she  found  friends 
to  console  her  in  affliction,  and  relieve  the  sufferings  of  ill- 
health  and  poverty? 

On  the  passage  home,  Mark  Rowland  could  fully  sympa 
thize  with  the  uaamiable  feelings  of  the  captain  and  crew, 
when  the  wind,  after  baffling  about  for  a  time,  fixed  itself  in 
the  very  quarter  to  which  they  wished  to  steer ;  or,  what 
was-  still  more  annoying,  died  away,  and  a  dead  calm  pre 
vailed,  which  threatened  to  last  for  days.  At  such  a  time 
Mark  could  appreciate  the  sentiment  contained  in  the  fol 
lowing  lines  by  the  poet  Fields  :  — 

"  A  welcome  to  the  rushing  blast 

That  stirs  the  waters  now. 
Ye  white-plum'd  heralds  of  the  deep, 

Make  music  round  her  prow. 
Give  sea-room  to  the  roaring  gale ; 

Let  stormy  trumpets  blow ; 
But  chain  ten  thousand  fathoms -down 

The  sluggish  calm  below." 

Captain  Lamark,  after  leaving  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
was  desirous  of  getting  to  the  southward  into  the  region  of 
the  trade-winds,  as  rapidly  as  possible.  But  the  winds  came 
l  from  the  northward,  with  boisterous  weather^  and  the  ship's 
progress  was  slow,  averaging  not  more  than  a  degree  each 
day  for  a  week,  until  in  the  latitude  of  twenty-seven  and  a 
half  degrees  she  fell  in  with  the  regular  "south-east  trades," 


162  MARK  ROWLAND. 

which  wafted  her  steadily  along  on  her  way,  until  she  nearly 
reached  the  equator. 

Ships  bound  home  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  or  ports 
beyond  it  in  the  Indian  Seas,  find  this  part  of  their  passage 
particularly  delightful.  The  wind,  although  often  moderate, 
remains  fixed  in  one  point,  and  the  ship  ploughs  her  way 
through  a  smooth  sea,  directly  before  it,  with  royals,  sky- 
sails,  and  "  studding-sails  both  sides,  alow  and  aloft." 
There  is  no  fear  of  squalls  or  sudden  changes.  The  air  is 
balmy  and  the  temperature  delicious.  This  is  indeed  the 
very  poetry  of  navigation.  "If  such  winds  and  weather 
were  always  met  with  at  sea,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins  to  Mark 
Rowland,  "  sailors  might  hang  up  their  marline-spikes,  and 
let  the  old  women  sail  and  navigate  the  ships." 

As  the  island  of  Ascension  lay  almost  directly  in  the 
route  of  the  Rosamond  towards  the  equator,  Captain  La- 
mark  thought  he  would  endeavor  to  get  a  sight  of  it  in  order 
to  test  the  accuracy  of  his  chronometer  and  sextant ;  and 
one  day,  having  ascertained  his  precise  latitude  at  twelve 
o'clock,  on  the  passage  of  the  sun  across  the  meridian,  he 
said  that  if  his  instruments  for  determining  the  longitude 
were  correct,  the  island  of  Ascension  ought  soon  to  be  in 
sight,  as  Green  Mountain,  the  highest  part  of  the  island, 
could  be  seen  from  a  long  distance,  and  the  island  was  sit 
uated  in  a  parallel  of  latitude  only  thirty-five  miles  to  the 
northward  of  the  ship,  the  latitude  of  the  ship  being  in  seven 
degrees  and  twenty-two  minutes  south. 

Acting  upon  this  hint,  Mark  Rowland  sprang  into  the 
fore-rigging  like  a  squirrel,  and  climbed  upwards  and  up 
wards  until  he  reached  the  fore-royal  mast-head,  and  no 
sooner  had  he  cast  his  eyes  around  the  horizon  than  he  cried 
out,  "  Land  ho  !  about  three  points  on  the  starboard  bow !  " 

He  could  only  see  the  faint  outline  of  the  upper  part  of 
Green  Mountain.  But  the  mountain  could  not  be  seen  from 


HOMEWARD    BOUND.  163 

the  deck  until  nearly  an  hour  afterwards.  Captain  Lamark 
felt  greatly  pleased  at  having  made  such  a  capital  land-fall, 
giving  assurance  of  the  accuracy  of  his  instruments  and  his 
skill  in  their  management. 

As  the  Rosamond  had  so  recently  left  port,  and  was  well 
supplied  with  the  various  articles  which  are  supposed  to 
make  a  sailor's  life  not  only  endurable  but  comfortable,  Cap 
tain  Lamark  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  anchor,  but  al 
tering  the  ship's  course  a  couple  of  points,  passed  along 
within  about  a  mile  of  the  island,  which  they  reached  by  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  obtained  a  fine  view  of  its  gen 
eral  character  and  appearance. 

In  answer  to  the  many  questions  which  Mark  Rowland 
put  to  Captain  Lamark,  who,  in  a  passage  from  Manilla 
some  years  before,  had  actually  landed  on  the  island 
of  Ascension,  that  gentleman  gave  Mark  the  following 
information. 

"  The  island  of  Ascension  is  a  huge,  volcanic  mass  of 
rocks  thrown  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  ocean.  It  is  about 
twenty  miles  in  circumference,  and  its  bleak  and  barren  ap 
pearance,  when  seen  from  the  water,  does  not  belie  the  real 
ity.  It  is  a  rough,  rocky,  uneven  spot,  with  but  little  soil, 
no  trees,  and  scanty  vegetation  of  any  kind.  The  highest 
point  of  the  island  is  three  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  Goats  and  rats  are  about  the  only  quadrupeds 
which  are  found  on  the  island  in  a  wild  state.  It  has  been 
held  by  Great  Britain  as  a  military  post,  ever  since  Napo 
leon  Bonaparte  was  gratuitously  furnished  with  lodgings  at 
St.  Helena  by  the  British  Government.  Vessels  which 
touch  there  are  supplied  with  water,  sometimes  with  vegeta 
bles  of  a  very  ordinary  quality,  and  turtles  in  abundance. 
These  turtles  are  large,  and  furnish  delicate  and  nutritious 
food,  and  are  heartily  welcomed  on  board  ships,  which  hav 
ing  been  long  at  sea,  are  deficient  in  fresh  provisions. 


164  MARK  ROWLAND. 

There  is  little  else  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  traveller, 
or  satisfy  the  longings  of  the  naturalist." 

Mark  Rowland  had  often  heard  these  famous  turtles  spo 
ken  of  and  described  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Rosa 
mond,  and  was  very  anxious  to  see  what  kind  of  looking 
animals  they  were.  And  in  a  few  days  after  the  ship  passed 
the  island  of  Ascension*  he  met  with  an  opportunity  not  only 
to  see  one  of  these  queer,  uncouth-looking  animals,  but  to  be 
convinced  of  their  existence  by  tangible  proof. 

After  the  ship  had  crossed  the  equator,  and  was  making 
the  best  of  her  way  through  the  region  of  calms,  showers, 
and  thunder-squalls,  before  reaching  the  latitude  of  the 
north-east  trade-winds,  a  dark  object  was  seen  one  forenoon 
on  the  water  by  the  man  at  the  wheel.  He  pointed  it  out  to 
Mr.  Digges,  who  was  officer  of  the  deck  at  the  time.  That 
officer  recognized  it  once  as  a  turtle  —  as  a  turtle  of  uncom 
mon  size  —  asleep  on  the  water ! 

It  was  nearly  calm  at  the  time.  The  ship  barely  had 
steerage-way.  There  w'as  no  prospect  of  a  breeze,  and  al 
though  heavy  clouds  hung  about  the  horizon,  it  would  be 
long  before  they  could  reach  the  zenith.  Mr.  Digges  was 
an  epicure  in  his  way,  and  professed  to  be  inordinately  fond 
of  turtle ;  and  the  sight  of  the  animal  quietly  reposing  on 
the  water,  unconscious  of  danger,  conjured  up  rapturous 
visions  of  delicious  turtle  steaks,  and  unctuous  soups  and  fric 
assees,  such  as  would  bewilder,  captivate,  and  charm  the  pal 
ate  of  the  most  fastidious  epicure.  Thrusting  his  head  down 
the  companion-way,  "  Captain  Lamark,"  said  that  trustwor 
thy  officer,  "  there  is  a  fine  turtle  asleep  on  the  water,  but  a 
short  distance  off;  shall  I  lower  away  the  jolly-boat,  nab 
him,  and  bring  him  on  board  ?  " 

"That  is  more  easily  said  than  done,"  replied  the  cap 
tain.  "It  is  as  hard  to  catch  a  turtle  asleep  as  a  weasel. 
I  have  no  objection  to  your  making  the  trial,  but  you  had 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  165 

better  take  the  grainse  with  you,  and  strike  a  prong  through 
one  of  his  flippers,  if  you  want  to  make  sure  of  him." 

Mr.  Digges  was  one  of  those  men  who  seldom  take  prof 
fered  advice,  or  adopt  the  suggestions  of  others,  and  who,  in 
consequence,  are  often  involved  in  trouble.  "  I  want  no 
grainse,"  said  he,  turning  towards  Mr.  Hawkins,  u  or  any 
thing  of  the  kind,  to  catch  a  sleeping  turtle." 

The  ship's  way  was  stopped,  and  Mr.  Digges,  Mark  Row 
land,  and  Harry  Linsay,  stepped  into  the  boat.  Mark  had 
not  much  faith  in  the  mate's  success,  after  the  captain's  ad 
monition,  but  wished  to  obtain  as  close  a  view  of  the  animal 
as  possible. 

Mr.  Digges,  with  his  sleeves  rolled  up,  bare-armed  for  the 
contest,  —  like  Pentapolin  of  old,  —  and  determination  in 
his  eye,  took  his  station  in  the  bow ;  Mark  stood  near  him, 
and  both  fixed  their  eyes  intently  on  the  drowsy  reptile,  while 
Harry  Linsay,  agreeably  to  the  directions  of  the  mate,  slow 
ly  and  cautiously  sculled  the  boat  through  the  water. 
"  So  !  steady  as  you  go !  "  said  Mr.  Digges.  "  Don't  give 
her  too  much  way !  Steer  straight  for  the  turtle  ;  keep  him 
right  ahead !  There,  that  will  do  !  Way  enough !  Stand 
by,  Mark,  and  if  I  should  miss  him,  grab  him  by  the  flip 
per,  and  hold  on  like  a  nor'-wester  to  a  West  Indiaman  in 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  mid-winter  !  " 

But  the  turtle,  although  pretending  to  be  asleep,  was  in 
reality  wide  awake,  or  was  awakened  -by  a  presentiment  of 
coming  danger.  As  the  boat  reached  him,  and  Mr.  Digges 
with  outstretched  arms  made  an  effort  to  seize  him,  the  rep 
tile  with  a  quick  motion  dodged  him  and  darted  across  the 
bow;  of  the  boat,  thus  placing  himself  within  reach  of  Mark 
Rowland.  Just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of  diving,  with  his 
head  down  and  his  tail  up,  Mark  grabbed  him  by  the  hind 
flipper,  and  shouted  exultantly,  "I've  got  him!  I've  got 
him ! " 


166  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"  Hold  on,  Mark,"  screamed  Mr.  Digges ;  "  hold  on  for 
your  life ! "  and  he  stepped  over  to  the  other  side  of  the 
boat  to  Mark's  assistance.  • 

This  turtle  was  an  animal  of  monstrous  size,  of  the  logger 
head  species,  weighing  at  least  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
and  his  strength  in  the  water  was  prodigious.  Terrified  at 
such  unceremonious  and  unkind  treatment,  the  animal  made 
a  desperate  struggle  to  get  away,  exerting  all  its  muscular 
power,  and  for  a  brief  moment  it  was  a  question  whether  the 
turtle  would  be  captured  and  conveyed  in  triumph  on  board 
the  ship,  or  Mark  Rowland,  who,  stimulated  by  the  loud 
cries  of  the  mate,  would  not  relinquish  his  hold,  go  over 
board. 

The  struggle  was  a  short  but  severe  one.  It  was  decided 
in  favor  of  the  turtle  by  Mr.  Digges,  himself,  who  on  step 
ping  to  Mark's  assistance  gave  the  boat  a  list  that  upset 
Mark's  equilibrium,  already  endangered  by  the  struggles  of 
the  reptile  ;  and  overboard  lie  went,  still  clinging  like  a  hero 
to  the  turtle,  and  both  disappeared  beneath  the  waves. 

The  turtle  was  never  heard  of  afterwards,  and  doubtless 
rejoiced  exceedingly  at  having  shaken  off  its  pursuer,  and 
escaped  without  a  wound ;  and  quite  likely  in  its  aquatic 
haunts  it  has  often  related  for  the  edification  of  admiring 
audiences,  the  perilous  adventure  it  once  met  with  in  the 
upper  regions. 

In  a  few  moments  Mark  Rowland  appeared,  bouncing  up 
to  the  surface  like  a  cork,  and  blowing  and  puffing  like  a 
porpoise.  He  was  taken  into  the  boat,  and  the  parties 
returned  to  the  ship  silent  and  disappointed.  Indeed,  Mr. 
Digges  looked  crest-fallen  and  cross,  and  exhibited  aTery 
unamiable  temper  for  a  week  afterwards,  and  was  observed 
to  look  particularly  savage  and  wrathful,  whenever  the  word 
turtle  was  mentioned  in  his  hearing. 


CHAPTER  XTV. 

DAVY  JONES. 

THE  goat  "which  Mark  Rowland  brought  on  board  at  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  proved  to  be  a  lively,  frisky  animal, 
playful  and  sometimes  mischievous.  And  his  mischievous 
propensities  were  rather  encouraged  than  otherwise  by  the 
sailors,  who  regarded  him  with  much  interest  and  affec 
tion,  and  took  charge  of  his  education.  They  named 
him  Samson ;  he  had  the  range  of  the  decks,  and  took 
great  delight  in  chasing  the  men  about  when  they  were 
engaged  in  their  various  duties,  and  exercising  his  skill  in 
buttincf,  an  accomplishment  in  which  he  had  received  no  little 
encouragement  and  instruction  from  the  sailors,  and  in 
which  he  showed  himself  an  apt  scholar.  Indeed,  not  hav 
ing  judgment  enough  to  select  the  proper  times,  places,  and 
persons,  when,  where,  and  on  whom,  to  test  his  force  and 
adroitness  in  thai,  peculiar  and  effective  mode  of  attack,  he 
more  than  once  involved  himself  in  trouble. 

Mr.  Digges  was  a  good  officer,  scrupulously  attentive  to 
his  duties.  He  was  somewhat  stout-built,  had  a  bald  head , 
and  but  little  fun  in  his  disposition.  He  never  joked,  and 
seldom  laughed  at  the  jokes  of  others.  Such  men  are,  per 
haps,  well  enough  in  their  way,  for  the  sake  of  variety  ;  but 
it  is  well  for  the  happiness  of  mankind  that  there  are  not 
many  of  them. 

Mr.  Digges  took  a  dislike  to  Samson  when  he  was  first 
brought  on  board ;  and  grumbled  without  stint  at  the  cap- 

167 


168  MARK  ROWLAND. 

tain's  folly,  in  thus  allowing  a  four-legged  beast  to  cumber 
the  ship,  clutter  up  the  decks,  and  be  always  in  the  way. 
He  could  never  get  reconciled  to  the  presence  of  Samson, 
but  took  every  opportunity  to  give  him  a  kick,  or  indulge 
his  hatred  in  a  manner  equally  unjustifiable.  Samson  bore 
this  ill-treatment  for  some  time  without  resistance  or  even 
remonstrance  ;  but  at  last  an  opportunity  offered  for  retalia 
tion,  which  the  mate  little  anticipated,  but  which  Samson 
knowingly  or  unwittingly  improved  to  its  fullest  extent ;  and 
thus  "  the  whirligig  of  time  brought  about  its  revenges." 

It  was  the  Sabbath  day.  The  ship  was  just  emerging 
from  the  tropics.  The  weather  was  pleasant  and  warm,  with 
a  moderate  breeze  nearly  abeam.  After  a  hearty  dinner  the 
captain  had  retired  to  his  state-room,  and  was  indulging  in  a 
nap,  and  Mr.  Hawkins,  the  second  mate,  had  followed  the 
captain's  laudable  example.  Mr.  Digges,  whose  watch  was 
on  deck,  after  taking  a  few  turns  fore  and  aft,  thought  that 
instead  of  reading  a  chapter  or  two  in  the  Bible,  as  he  should 
hav^  done,  he  would  improve  his  leisure  time  in  washing  a 
few  of  his  garments,  which  he  easily  persuaded  himself  was 
an  act  of  necessity. 

According!}7",  having  clandestinely  provided  himself  with  a 
bucket  of  fresh  water,  Mr.  Digges  took  his  station  in  the  lee 
scuppers,  and  made  due  preparations  for  business.  The 
weather  being  warm,  he  threw  off  his  hat  and  jacket,  and 
rolling  up  his  shiru  sleeves,  and  stooping  down  over  the 
bucket,  iii  a  posture  resembling  the  natural  attitude  of  a 
quadruped,  he  went  briskly  to  work. 

At  this  critical  moment  Samson  came  from  the  forecastle, 
having  been  reciting  some  practical  lessons  in  butting,  for 
the  amusement  of  the  sailors.  He  saw  the  mate  in  a  stoop 
ing  posture,  with  his  shiny  cranium  bobbing  up  and  down, 
and  taking  it  for  a  challenge  to  a  trial  of  strength  and  skill, 
and  possibly  influenced  by  shadowy  visions  of  ill-treatment, 


DAVY  JONES.  169 

which  flitted  before  his  mind's  eye,  he  stepped  back  a  pace 
or  two,  to  allow  space  for  a  good  run,  and  raising  his  head 
for  a  correct  aim,  rushed  with  the  force  of  a  rock  from  a 
ballista  full  against  the  bald  head  which  was  nodding  defi 
ance.  \ 

The  shock  was  a  tremendous  one,  and  could  be  heard  all 
over  the  ship.  The  unfortunate  mate,  who  little  dreamed  of 
such  an  encounter,  was  knocked  over  backwards,  and  fell 
sprawling  and  senseless  in  the  scuppers,  and  his  cranium 
was  saved  from  fracture  only  by  the  unusual  thickness  of  his 
skull. 

Samson  escaped  "  death  or  worse  punishment,"  only  by 
the  unconsciousness  of  his  opponent,  who  was  borne  into  the 
cabin,  where  his  head  was  bound  up,  and  he  was  restored  to 
his  senses.  But  his  rage  at  such  an  unprovoked  .attack 
knew  no  bounds.  He  vowed  all  sorts  of  vengeance  against 
the  goat,  and  was*hardly  restrained  by  the  captain's  author 
ity  from  giving  the  animal  a  good  ropers-ending,  and  then 
knocking  him  in  the  head. 

A  week  or  two  after  this  occurrence,  which  furnished  a 
fruitful  theme  for  conversation  among  all  hands,  and.  tended 
to  enliven  the  ship's  company,  the  ship  Rosamond  entered 
the  Gulf  Stream,  and  met  with  rough  weather.  A  gale  came 
on  suddenly  in  squalls,  and  about  six  bells  in  the  middle 
watch  all  hands  were  called  to  reef  top-sails.  It  was  dark 
and  rainy ;  heavy  black  clouds  rose  from  the  horizon,  and 
passed  rapidly  over  the  zenith,  while  the  sea,  suddenly  agi 
tated  by  a  change  of  wind,  spitefully  tossed  volumes  of 
spray  over  the  decks. 

The  top-sail  halliards  were  let  go,  and  the  yards  clued 
down  for  reefing ;  the  main-sail  was  hauled  up,  the  spanker 
lowered,  and  the  jib  hauled  down.  The  men  went  aloft  and 
took  a  double  reef  in  the  top-sails,  but,  in  coming  down 
from  the  foretop-sail  yard,  one  of  the  men,  Jack  Radkin, 

15 


170  MARK   ROWLAND. 

was  startled  by  the  sight  of  a  strange-looking  object,  which 
seemed  to  be  clinging  to  the  lee  foretop-mast  backstays,  just 
above  the  level  of  the  foretop,  and  kicking  out  its  legs  like  a 
jumping  jack. 

Radkin  hailed  it,  thinking  it  might  be  one  of  his  ship 
mates,  amusing  himself  in  that  strange  manner,  but  received 
no  answer.  The  darkness  prevented  his  analyzing  its  shape 
or  character,  but  he  saw  enough  to  arouse  all  his  fears,  and 
convince  him  that*  some  terrible  calamity  was  impending 
over  the  ship.  He  slid  down  on  deck  by  the  first  rope  he 
could  catch,  at  the  risk  of  breaking  Ms  neck. 

"  Mr.  Digges  !  Mr.  Digges ! "  he  shouted,  as  soon  as  he 
reached  the  deck  ;  u  Davy  Jones  is  aloft,  and  holding  on  to 
the  lee  backstays  !  " 

"Don't  be  a  natural-born  fool,  Jack!  What  do  you 
mean  ?  " 

"  He  is  there,  sir !  Davy  Jones  is  there,  sir,"  said  Jack, 
with  a  voice  tremulous  with  terror,  pointing  aloft ;  "  horns 
and  all !  I  saw  him,  as  I  came  down,  as  plain  as  the  nose 
on  my  face.  I  almost  touched  him.  You  may  see  him  now, 
sir.  He  is  ten  shades  blacker  than  the  pitchy  darkness  that 
is  around  us." 

On  looking  aloft,  this  strange  announcement  received  a 
terrible  confirmation  by  the  appearance  of  a  dark,  undefined 
object  in  the  direction  indicated  by  Jack  Radkin.  A  panic 
seized  the  ship's  companj7",  which  was  increased,  when,  on 
counting  noses,  not  a  man  was  missing  from  deck.  The  cap 
tain  was  known  to  be  snug  in  his  berth  in  the  cabin,  and 
Snowball,  the  cook,  was  lending  a  hand  on  deck.  Yet  some 
body  was  aloft ;  that  was  clear.  It  could  be  none  of  the 
ship's  company,  and  therefore  the  conclusion  was  inevitable  : 
it  must  be  the  great  enemy  of  mankind,  or  one  of  his  agents, 
on  some  fearful  mission. 

Mr.  Hawkins,  and  one  or  two  of  the  most  intrepid  sailors, 


DAVY  JOKES.  171 

went  half-way  up  the  lee  fore-rigging,  to  obtain  a  more  dis 
tinct  glimpse  of  the  object  which  had  excited  such  alarm ; 
but  a  nearer  view  only  served  to  confirm  the  fears  already 
entertained.  Bob  Randy,  a  bold,  reckless  reprobate,  on 
being  urged  by  Mr.  Digges  to  go  up  higher,  and  "  cut  the 
critter  loose,"  whatever  it  was,  and  throw  it  overboard,  re 
fused,  declaring  that  he  feared  nothing  in  the  shape  of  a  liv 
ing  man,  but  as  for  fighting  a  black,  horned  demon,  there 
was  no  such  obligation  in  the  shipping  articles. 

By  this  time  the  squall  had  subsided,  the  clouds  had 
become  broken,  and  objects  could  be  seen  more  distinctly. 
Mr.  Digges  now  summoned  all  his  courage  to  his  aid,  and, 
with  a  degree  of  daring  which  reflected  great  credit  on  the 
character  of  that  active  officer,  determined  to  go  aloft  him 
self,  and  ascertain,  from  personal  inspection,  the  nature  of 
the  mysterious  phantom  which  had  frightened  the  whole 
ship's  company.  His  compressed  lips  and  scowling  c6unte- 
nance  marked  his  unshaken  resolution,  as  he  ascended  the 
lee  fore-rigging,  cautiously  passed  over  the  rattlings,  keep 
ing  a  good  look-out  above  his  head,  until  he  reached  the  fut- 
tock  shrouds.  Here,  pausing  in  his  career,  he  took  a  good 
look  at  the  monster. 

"  Do  you  see  him?"  inquired  the  second  mate,  in  a  low 
voice,  as  he  stood  on  the  gunwale,  looking  up. 

"  See  him?    To  be  sure  I  do,"  replied  Mr.  Digges. 

"  What  does  he  look  like?  "  asked  Mr.  Hawkins. 

"  He  looks  like  Davy  Jones,  and  nobody  else,"  said  Mr. 
Digges,  with  a  shudder.  "  I  can  see  his  horns  !  I  can  see 
his  tail !  I  can  see  his  cloven  foot !  I  can  see  his  long  beard ! 
and  —  dowse  my  glim,  if  it  isn't  that  confounded  goat,  Sam 
son,  strung  up  by  the  gills  like  a  stock-fish,  after  all!" 

Mr.  Digges  came  down  .quicker  than  he  went  up.  He  told 
Mr.  Hawkins  to  set  the  sails  and  trim  the  yards,  and  walked 


172  MARK  ROWLAND. 

off  without  saying  another  word.     Soon  afterwards  he  went 
below,  highly  mortified,  indignant,  and  disgusted^ 

The  key  thus  furnished,  the  mystery  was  soon  unlocked. 
Samson  was  found  to  be  actually  hanging  and  dangling  in 
mid-air.  It  was  subsequently  ascertained  that,  when  the  jib 
halliards  were  let  go  by  the  run',  and  the  jib  hauled  down, 
the  goat  must  have  been  standing  around,  as  usual,  to  see 
what  was  going  on,  and  had  stepped  into  the  coil  of  the 
rope  just  as  it  was  thrown  on  deck.  When  the  halliards 
were  let  go,  a  couple  of  turns  of  the  rope  caught  him  around 
the  neck,  and,  in  spite  of  his  struggles  and  resistance,  car 
ried  him  aloft.  Thus,  without  any  intention  on  the  part  of 
the  goat,  or  any  of  the  ship's  company,  poor  Samson  paid 
the  penalty  for  being  where  he  was  not  wanted,  and  was 
"  hanged  by  the  neck  until  he  was  dead." 

Captain  Lamark  was  a  skilful  navigator.  He  not  only  had 
a  good  chronometer  and  a  good  sextant,  and  knew  how  to 
use  them,  but  he  was  gifted  with  a. sound  judgment,  and, 
even  in.  the  absence  of  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  if  "  dead 
reckoning "  was  to  be  relied  on,  he  would  be  at  all  times 
aware  of  the  exact  position  of  the  ship.  He  placed,  how 
ever,  but  little  confidence  in  dead  reckoning.  He  regarded 
it  at  best  but  a  rough  kind  of  guess-work.  On  approaching 
a  coast  in  cloudy  weather,  when  neither  the  longitude  nor 
latitude  could  be  ascertained  by  observation,  he  relied  alto 
gether  on  his  lead  and  line.  He  often  said  that  if  sound 
ings  were  resorted  to  on  approaching  the  land,  and  the  lead 
frequently  used,  shipwrecks  would  be  reduced  at  least  fifty 
per  centum;  for  there  were  very  few  parts  of  the  ocean 
where  the  soundings  would  not  indicate,  in  a  manner  which 
could  not  be  misunderstood,  the  proximity  of  danger. 

After  leaving  the  Gulf  Stream,  Captain  Lamark  steered  a 
course  to  the  northward,  intending  to  pass  through  the  South 
Channel :  that  is,  the  wide  and  safe  passage  between  the 


DAVY  JONES.  173 

shoals  of  Nantucket  on  the  west,  and  St.  George's  Bank  on 
the  east.  He  always  had  a  horror  of  the  Vineyard  Sound, 
with  its  Holmes  Hole,  extra  charges  for  pilotage  and  ship's 
stores,  besides  a  tedious  detention  of  weeks  or  months. 

On  approaching  the  entrance  of  the  South  Channel,  the 
weather  was  mild  and  the  atmosphere  foggy.  The  captain 
had  taken  no  observation  for  the  previous  twenty-four  hours, 
and,  with  the  currents  which  prevail  in  that  quarter,  and 
light  and  baffling  winds,  he  was  by  no  means  certain  of  the 
position  of  the  ship.  Nevertheless,  he  kept  on  fearlessly, 
depending  on  the  lead,  feeling  assured  that  it  would  not  only 
give  him  seasonable  warning  of  his  approach  to  the  land, 
but  also  indicate,  by  the  character  of  the  soundings,  which 
side  of  the  channel  he  was  approaching,  and  thus  enable  him 
to  steer  a  correct  course. 

Night  came  on;  it  was  quite  dark,  drizzly,  and  foggy. 
No  object,  not  even  the  light  in  a  lighthouse,  could  be  seen 
at  the  distance  of  two  ship's  lengths  from  the  jib-boom. 
There  was  now  a  steady  breeze  from  the  south-east,  but  the 
ship,  although  under  full  sail,  was  in  good  working  trim. 
Captain  Lamark  was  on  deck,  for  at  a  time  like  this,  he 
would  trust  to  the  vigilance  of  no  one  but  himself.  The 
lead  was  thrown  from  time  to  time,  and  the  soundings  care 
fully  noted  ;  twenty,  twenty-five,  and  thirty  fathoms,  —  sand, 
or  sand  and  shells. 

At  four  bells  in  the  first  watch  (ten  o'clock),  all  hands 
being  on  deck,  the  captain  remarked  to  his  officers,  "  Surely, 
we  ought  to  be  as  far  along  as  the  south  shoal  of  Nantucket 
by  this  time.  These  numerous  tide-rips,  almost  amounting 
to  breakers,  are  sure  indications  that  shoal  water  is  not  far 
off.  Take  another  cast  of  the  lead." 

The  lead  was  thrown,  and  conveyed  the  intelligence  that 
the  ship  was  in  fifteen  fathoms  of  water.  A  few  minutes 

16* 


174  MARK  ROWLAND. 

afterwards,  the  water  had  shoaled  to  eight  fattioms,  rocky 
bottom.  .  , 

"  Starboard  your  helm,"  said  Captain  Lamark  to  the  man 
at  the  wheel ;  "I  know  where  we  are  now.  We  are  on  the 
tail  of  St.  George's  shoal.  Brail  up  the  spanker  and  square 
the  yards.  Keep  her  west-north-west." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  responded  the  helmsman.  "  West-north 
west  it  is." 

The  water  soon  deepened,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  no  sound 
ings  could  be  obtained  with  fifty  fathoms  of  line.  "  Hur 
rah  !  "  exclaimed  the  captain  ;  "  'tis  all  right !  Hey  for  Cape 
Cod !  If  the  wind 'holds,  and  the  fog  clears  away,  we  shall 
make  the  highlands  of  the  cape  by  noon  to-morrow." 

Notwithstanding  Captain  Lamark  was  so  confident  that  he 
knew  the  exact  position  of  his  ship,  he  caused  the  lead  to  be 
thrown  at  short  intervals  through  the  night.  "  It  is  barely 
possible  that  I  may  be  mistaken,"  he  remarked  to  his  officers, 
"  and  it  is  always  best  to  be  on  the  safe  side." 

Mr.  Digges  thought  the  captain  was  over-cautious,  and 
that  such  constant  heaving  of  the  lead  was  a  very  trouble 
some  operation,  and  altogether  unnecessary.  But  he  wisely 
refrained  from  expressing  his  discontented  feelings  in  the 
hearing  of  the  captain. 

Mr.  Hawkins,  however,  took  a  different  view  of  the  mat 
ter,  and  not  only  obeyed  the  orders  of  the  captain  with 
alacrity  and  cheerfulness,  but  anticipated  his  wishes  in 
regard  to  the  soundings. 

In  the  middle  watch,  while  the  captain  had  gone  below  to 
obtain  a  little  sleep,  being  weary  and  worn  out  with  care 
and  watchfulness,  Mr.  Hawkins  took  occasion  to  express  to 
Mark  Rowland  his  admiration  of  the  conduct  of  Captain 
Lamark  when  approaching  the  coast.  "If  every  captain," 
said  Mr.  Hawkins,  "  were  as  prudent  as  Captain  Lamark, 
many  a  strong  ship -would  have  been  saved  from  shipwreck, 


DAVY  JONES.  175 

and  many  a  brave  and  faithful  sailor  would  have  been  saved 
from  a  sudden  death. 

"  I  was  once,"  continued  Mr.  Hawkins,  warming  with  his 
subject,  "  before  the  mast  in  the  ship  Redondo,  Captain  Lan- 
rock,  bound  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  with  a  heavy  and 
valuable  cargo.  The  captain  was  a  worthy  man,  a  good 
sailor,  and  a  skilful  navigator.  But  he  liked  his  ease ;  he 
could  not  bear  to  be  deprived  of  his  usual  amount  of  sleep, 
and  reposed  a*  great  deal  more  confidence  in  the  fidelity  and 
vigilance  of  his  officers  than  they  deserved.  After  a  long 
and  tedious  passage  of  fifty-six  days,  for  the  Redondo  was 
a  heavy  sailer,  we  made,  just  at  night,  the  Jersey  coast, 
some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  to  the  southward  of  the  highlands 
of  Navesink.  The  wind  was  to  the  northward,  and  there 
was  a  heavy  sea  running,  and  as  we  could  not  obtain  a  pilot, 
the  captain  concluded  to  stand  off  and  on  during  the  night, 
hoping  to  find  himself  off  Sandy  Hook  in  the  morning. 

"  At  five  o'clock  we  were  well  in  with  the  land,  in  fifteen 
fathoms  of  water.  We  then  tacked  ship  and  stood  off  to  the 
eastward  until  eight  o'clock,  when,  with  a  light  breeze,  we 
again  tacked  and  stood  in  shore.  The  chief  mate,  Mr.  Gar- 
gin,  whom  the  captain  believed  to  be  true  and  trustworthy, 
but  who  would  steal  a  nap  on  deck  whenever  he  had  a 
chance,  aye,  even  sleep  with  his  head  in  a  bucket  of  water, 
had  charge  of  the  first  watch. 

"  The  captain  told  Mr.  Gargin  to  keep  a  good  lookout, 
and  take  a  cast  of  the  lead  every  fifteen  minutes  at  least,  and 
at  four  bells  (ten  o'clock)  put  the  ship  round  with  her  head 
off  shore ;  and  if  at  any  time  he  found  less  than  fifteen 
fathoms,  to  tack  ship  immediately.  'And,  Mr.  Gargin/ 
continued  he;  '  if  there  should  be  any  change  in  the  wind  or 
weather,  give  me  a  call ;  and  be  sure  to  call  me  at  twelve 
o'clock.' 


176  MARK  ROWLAND. 

• 

" '  Aye,  aye,  sir ! '  responded  Mr.  Gargin,  somewhat 
gruffly. 

"  Captain  Lanrock  went  below,  feeling  satisfied  that  he 
had  done  his  duty.  He  unrigged  himself  and  turned  into 
his  berth,  as  unconcernedly  as  if  he  had  taken  lodgings  at  a 
first-class"  hotel,  throwing  off  with  his  coat  all  responsibility 
for  the  fate  of  the  ship  and  crew. 

"  He  had  hardly  closed  his  eyes  before  the  wind  hauled  a 
couple  of  points  to  the  eastward,  and  rapidly  increased  to  a 
strong  breeze.  The  weather  also  became  thick  and  rainy, 
and  the  ship  now  dashed  on  towards  the  shore  with  nearly 
double  the  speed  with  which  she  left  it  a  short  time  before. 
The  mate,  warmly  wrapped  in  his  monkey-jacket,  which 
might  very  properly  be  called  a  wraprascal,  after  taking  a 
a  few  turns  fore  and  aft,  seated  himself  on  the  weather  hen 
coop,  gradually  assumed  a  recumbent  position,  and  was  soon 
lost  to  sense  and  motion. 

"  Mr.  Gargin  was  aroused  out  of  his  nap  by  the  helmsman 
when  he  announced  that  it  was  ten  o'clock.  The  mate  shook 
himself,  looked  around,  and  ordered  the  lead  to  be  thrown. 
It  was  ascertained  that  the  ship  was  in  eighteen  fathoms  of 
water. 

"'All  right!'  said  Mr.  Gargin.  'If  she  keeps  in  eigh 
teen  fathoms  she  will  never  go  ashore.' 

"  fc  That's  as  true  as  if  Old  Neptune  himself  had  said  it,' 
remarked  old  Ben  Lufkin,  who  had  just  taken  the  wheel. 

"  '  We  will  stand  on  for  half  an  hour  longer,'  soliloquized 
the  mate,  '  and  then  we  can  afford  to  take  a  good  stretch 
off.'  And  he  threw  himself  down  on  the  hen-coop  again,  and 
slept  as  soundly  as  the  captain  in  the  cabin. 

"His  half  hour  was  a  long  „ one.  An  hour  and  a  half 
passed  by,  and  the  ship  meanwhile  was  rushing  towards  the 
land  at  the  rate  of  six  or  seven  knots  through  the  water, 
aided  by  a  heavy  sea  tumbling  in  from  the  eastward,  and 


DAVY  JONES.  177 

perhaps  also  by  a  strong  current  setting  in  the  same  direc 
tion. 

"  I  was  in  the  chief  mate's  watch,  and  the  opinion  was 
freely  expressed  among  my  watch-mates  that  we  were  getting 
too  near  the  land  for  our  comfort  or  safety.  But  Caleb 
Benson,  a  sort  of  boatswain  on  board,  dryly  remarked, 
4  That's  no  business  of  ours,  boys !  If  the  ship  is  lost,  it 
will  not  be  our  fault.  If  any  one  of  us  should  advise  the 
mate  to  tack  ship  and  stand  off,  he  would  receive  more  abuse 
than  thanks ;  more  kicks  than  coppers.  By  all  means  let 
matters  take  their  own  course,  and  we  shall  soon  find  out 
what  that  will  be.' 

"  And  soon,  too  soon,  the  crisis  came.  All  at  once  was 
heard  a  loud,  sullen  roar,  which  soon  died  away.  But  the 
origin  of  that  roar  could  not  be  mistaken  by  any  one  who 
had  ever  heard  it.  Caleb  Benson  shouted  with  a  voice  that 
could  be  heard  all  over  the  ship,  c  BREAKERS  AHEAD  ! '  At 
the  same  moment  Beri  Lufkin  called  to  the  mate  in  a  tone 
of  great  alarm,  4  Mr.  Gargin !  Mr.  Gargin !  there's  break 
ers  ahead,  as  sure  as  there's  sharks  in  the  sea ! ' 

"  Mr.  Gargin  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  was  wide  awake  in 
an  instant.  At  the  same  moment  Captain  Lanrock,  hearing 
the  cry  of  'breakers ! '  rushed  up  on  deck,  clad  only  in  a 
single  garment. 

ut  What  is  the  meaning  of  this,  Mr.  Gargin?'  screamed 
the  captain.  c  You  sleepy-headed  scoundrel,  you  have  neg 
lected  your  duty,  and  we  are  lost ! '  At  the  same  time  he 
gave  the  mate  a  blow  with  his  fist  which  knocked  that  officer 
headlong  into  the  lee  scuppers,  and  that  was  the  last  ever 
seen  of  him. 

"  4  Hard  down  your  helm,  and  stand  by  for  stays ! ' 
shouted  the  captain,  in  a  loud* voice,  which  nevertheless 
could  hardly  be  heard  above  the  roar  of  the  breakers,  which 
were  fearfully  near. 

"  And  even  at  that  critical  moment  if  the  ship  had  worked 


1 78  MARK  ROWLAND . 

well,  and  come  round,  we  might  have  filled  on  the  other  tack 
and  clawed  off  shore.  But  she  would  not  ;  stay/  and  the 
only  chance  was  to  '  wear  ship.'  The  spanker  was  brailed 
up,  the  head  yards  were  braced  round,  and  we  boxed  her 
off,  and  got  her  before  the  wind,  which  by  this  time  having 
hauled  into  north-east,  was  blowing  directly  on  shore.  But 
before  the  ship  could  come-to  on  the  other  tack,  she  was 
among  the  breakers.  She  was  lifted  high  up  on  the  top  of  a 
gigantic  combing  wave,  and  dashed  upon  the  shores  of  the 
Jersey  coast,  with  a  shock  that  took  every  man  off  his  feet, 
and  shook  the  masts  out  of  their  steps. 

"  The  ship  swung  round  broadside  to  the  wind,  when  a  sea 
came  in  over  the  quarter  which  swept  the  deck,  took  off  the 
captain,  the  second  mate,  and  the  helmsman,  whose  bodies 
were  afterwards  picked  up  on  the  beach.  The  rest  of  us 
clung  to  the  rigging  or  spars  as  well  as  we  could  for  a  time  ; 
but  how  we  managed  to  avoid  being  washed  away  at  once,  is 
more  than  I  know.  But  the  ship  was  old  and  decayed,  and 
could  not  long  stand  this  terrible  pounding.  She  was  soon 
crushed  like  an  egg-shell,  and  planks,  timbers,  spars,  and 
cargo  were  driven  towards  the  shore.  I  got  hold  of  a  plank, 
or  a  box,  or  a  spar,  I  hardly  know  what,  and  determined  to 
cling  to  it  as  long  as  possible.  I  soon  lost  air  sensation, 
and  an  hour  and  a  half  afterwards  found  myself  on  the  beach, 
half  frozen  to  death,  and  a  couple  of  good-natured  fellows 
were  kindly  pouring  whiskey  down  my  throat  to  bring  me  to 
my  senses. 

"  Four  of  my  shipmates  were  as  fortunate  as  myself,  and 
reached  the  shore  alive.  All  the  rest  of  the  crew  perished. 
This  sad  disaster  taught  me  that  an  officer  of  a  ship  should 
never  sleep  in  his  watch  on  deck,  or  neglect  to  heave  the  lead 
'when  approaching  the  land.  It  also  taught  me  that  no  man  is 
fit  to  command  a  ship,  who  in  a  critical  time  will  trust  the 
property  and  lives  for  which  he  is  responsible,  to  the  care 
and  judgment  of  any  one  but  himself." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   PERILS   OF   THE   WHALE-FISHERY. 

"Whales  in  the  sea, 
God's  voice  obey. "     , 

WITH  a  fine  breeze  from  the  south-east,  a  dense  and  driz 
zly  atmosphere,  and  surrounded  by  a  darkness  which  could 
almost  be  felt,  the  ship  Rosamond,  under  snug  sail,  pursued 
her  course  across  the  South  Channel  towards  Cape  Cod, 
cleaving  the  water,  and  bounding  along  at  the  rate  of  eight 
or  nine  knots,  as  if  anxious  to  get  to  the  end  of  the  voyage. 

At  midnight,  the  captain  being  still  on  deck,  the  larboard 
watch  was  roused  out.  When  Mr.  Digges  came  up,  he 
remarked  to  Mr.  Hawkins  that  on  such  a  night  a  lookout  was 
of  little  use,  as  before  a  vessel  or  any  other  object  could  be 
seen,  the  ship's  way  could  not  be  stopped  or  changed  in  time 
to  avert  the  danger. 

"It  is  a  risk  we  have  got  to  run,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins. 
"  If  any  small  coasting  vessel,  or  fishing  craft  bound  to 
George's  Bank,  should  be  in  our  path,  the  Lord  have  mercy 
on  the  poor  fellows  on  board." 

"  Amen ! "  said  Mr.  Digges,  with  an  irreverent  laugh. 
"  But  the  Rosamond  has  staunch  bows,  and  my  motto  is,  '  Let 
the  hardest  fend  off ! '  He  then  stepped  forward  into  the 
waist,  and  addressing  the  group  of  sailors  standing  by  the 
windlass,  told  them  to  keep  their  peepers  peeled,  and  keep  a 
sharp  lookout. 

The  order  was  hardly  given,  when  Jack  Radkin,  who  was 
standing  by  the  bowsprit  bitts,  called  out,  "  Port  your  helm  1 
hard-a-port !  a  sail  right  ahead ! " 

179 


180  MARK  ROWLAND. 

And  a  black  mass,  blacker  than  the  almost  Cimmerian 
darkness  around,  could  be  discerned  about  a  point  on  the 
larboard  bow.  It  proved  to  be  a  small  schooner,  on  a  wind, 
steering  to  the  eastward,  and  crossing  the  bow  of  the  ship. 

While  Mr.  Digges  rushed  forward  to  the  bows  to  see  more 
clearly  the  character  of  the  danger,  Captain  Lamark  reit 
erated  the  directions  given  by  Jack  Radkin,  and  Mr.  Haw 
kins  sprung  to  the  wheel,  and  with  a  vigorous  arm  forced  the 
tiller  hard-a-port. 

It  was  too  late !  The  ship  struck  the  schooner  nearly 
amidships,  and  crushed,  capsized,  and  demolished  the  little 
vessel,  so  that  no  remnant  of  her  or  her  crew  was  ever  after 
wards  seen,  and  hardly  recoiling  from  or  staggering  on 
account  of  the  destructive  blow  she  had  gi^en,  passed  on 
ward  on  her  way,  amid  the  terrific  screams  and  agonizing 
cries  of  the  unfortunate  men,  thus  called  upon  in  the  dead  of 
night,  without  a  note  of  warning,  to  appear  before  their 
Creator  and  answer  for  their  sins ! 

The  Rosamond  was  hove-to  as  soon  as  it  was  practicable, 
with  a  view  to  render  assistance  to  the  drowning  sailors, 
and  ascertain  the  amount  of  injury  the  ship  had  sustained 
in  the  conflict.  But  it  was  found  impossible,  on  that  dark 
and  stormy. night,  to  rescue  any  of  the  sinking  men  from 
their  dreadful  fate,  or  even  to  find  the  spot  where  the  col 
lision  took  place.  On  examining  the  bows  of  the  ship,  it 
was  ascertained  that  the  cutwater  was  carried  away ;  also 
the  martingale ;  the  jib-boom  was  broken  short  off,  probably 
by  coming  in  contact  with  one  of  the  schooner's  masts.  The 
bowsprit  was  a  little  shaky,  which  endangered  the  stability 
of  the  foremast,  but  the  ship  had  sprung  no  leak,  and  in 
half  an  hour  was  in  a  condition  to  proceed  on  her  route. 

But  where  was  Mr.  Digges  ?  In  the  confusion  incident  to 
the  shock,  this  officer  for  'some  time  was  not  missed.  But 
when  summoned  by  the  captain  to  receive  some  instructions, 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY.  181 

he  could  not  be  found.  He  was  not  in  the  ship !  When 
last  seen  he  was  standing  between  the  knight-heads,  just  as 
the  vessels  came  in  contact,  and  in  all  likelihood  was  knocked 
overboard  by  the  shock,  or  by  one  of  the  falling  spars. 

And  thus  Mark  Rowland,  before  he  reached  Lis  home, 
witnessed  another  thrilling  scene,  illustrating  the  danger 
which  attends  a  sailors  occupation,  and  the  uncertainty  of 
life  among  "  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  and  do 
business  on  the  great  waters." 

Soon  after  sunrise  the  next  morning,  the  wind  hauled 
round  to  the  south-west,  and  soon  afterwards  died  away. 
The  clouds  and  mists  dispersed,  and  the  blessed  sun  shone 
forth  as  if  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  ship's  company,  after 
the  dark  scenes  they  had  passed  through.  Mark  was  early 
aloft,  and  gazing  intently  on  the  western  horizon,  in  expec 
tation  of  seeing  the  land  or  a  light-house,  but  no  such  wel 
come  object  met  his  view.  As  he  cast  his  eyes  over  the 
waters,  he  beheld  a  number  of  vessels  of  diner ent  charac 
ters,  and  evidently  bound  in  different  directions.  Sloops, 
schooners,  brigs,  and  ships,  fishing-smacks,  coasters,  yachts, 
European  traders,  and  Indiamen,  showing  beyond  all  doubt 
that  the  Rosamond  was  approaching  a  wealthy  seaport,  or  a 
coast  rich  in  the  commerce  and  enterprise  of  the  inhabitants. 

While  he  was  admiring  the  scene,  his  heart  overflowing 
with  joy  at  this  evidence  of  the  near  termination  of  his  mar 
itime  adventures,  his  attention  was  arrested  by  the  spouting 
of  a  couple  of  whales,  not  a  hundred  fathoms  off,  crossing 
the  bows.  They  soon  afterwards  showed  themselves  under 
the  stern,  came  up  on  the  quarter,  spouted,  and  disappeared 
in  the  depths  x>f  the  ocean,  thrusting  up  their  tails  and 
splashing  the  water  about  at  a  great  rate  as  they  went  down. 
They  soon  made  their  appearance  again,  and  began  to 
frolic  around  the  ship,  and  continued  their  antics  until  Mr. 
Hawkins  became  offended  at  the  liberties  they  were  taking, 

16 


182  MARK  ROWLAND. 

and  expressed  a  fear  that  unless  rebuked  they  might  become 
too  familiar,  and  ordered  the  steward  to  hand  him  a  fowling- 
piece  from  the  cabin.  This  he  loaded  with  a  ball,  and  the 
next  time  the  huge,  uncouth-looking  monsters  came  up  to 
spout,  he  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  back  of  the  nearest  one, 
and  fired. 

That  the  bullet  struck  the  whale  there  was  no  doubt,  and 
such  an  unkind  salutation  evidently  made  upon  their  minds 
an  unfavorable  impression  of  our  hospitality,  for  they  sank 
beneath  the  waters,  sheered  off,  and  sought  some  other  field 
for  the  practice  of  their  gymnastic  exercises.  . 

Among  those  who  closely  watched  these  proceedings  was 
Archie  Stobbs.  Notwithstanding  he  enacted  the  part  of  Am- 
phitrite  when  crossing  the  line,  there  was  little  in  the  appear 
ance  of  Archie  that  bordered  on  the  feminine,  excepting  his 
diminutive  proportions.  His  features  exhibited  a  ludicrous 
absence  of  symmetry,  were  weather-beaten  and  case-hard 
ened,  having  been  a  countless  number  of  times  soaked  in 
salt  water  and  dried  in  the  tropical  sun.  He  had  voyaged 
to  almost  every  part  of  the  world,  and  had  met  with  many 
curious  adventures.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  this  visit 
from  these  oily  strangers,  and  exhibited  anxiety  and  dis 
pleasure  when  Mr.  Hawkins  proceeded  to  compliment  them 
with  a  bullet. 

Mark  took  notice  of  the  change  in  Archie's  manner,  habit 
ually  gay  and  cheerful,  as  the  whales  began  to  spout,  and 
listened  with  surprise  to  his  murmur  of  satisfaction,  when  it 
became  evident  that  these  clumsy  monsters  had  gone  off  on 
a  cruise.  Seeing  Archie  looking  over  the  bow  in  the  direc 
tion  which  the  strangers  had  apparently  taken,  Mark  ap 
proached  him,  and  inquired  if  he  knew  anything  about 
whales  ? 

"About  whales?"  replied  Archie  ;  "to  be  sure  I  do.  J. 
once  shipped  on  a  whaling-voyage,  and  passed  through 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY.  183 

scenes  of  a  rough-and-tumble  character  which  I  shall  never 
forget,  if  I  live  to  be  a  hundred  years  old.  My  flesh  always 
creeps  when  I  see  a  whale,  and  I  am  willing  that  he  should 
pass  on  his  way  without  being  checked  or  annoyed." 

"Archie,"  said  Mark,  with  a  persuasive  smile,  "Twish 
you  would  tell  me  something  about  those  rough-and-tumble 
scenes  you  speak  of.  The  whale  is  an  interesting  animal, 
but  I  know  little  of  his  character  or  habits.  That  there  are 
many  perils  in  the  whale-fishery  I  have  often  heard." 
.  "Perils  enough,  my  lad,"  said  Archie,  "  to  satisfy  any 
reasonable  person.  They  won't  catch  me  in  a  whaling-ship 
again,  anyhow.  If  you  want  to  know  something  of  my  ex 
perience  in  the  business  of  whale-catching,  I  will  give  it  to 
you  with  pleasure." 

Mark  assured  the  good-natured  tar  that  nothing  would 
give  him  greater  satisfaction,  upon  which  Archie  turned 
round,  hitched  up  his  trowsers,  put  his  finger  on  his  temple 
in  a  reflective  mood,  ,then  seated  himself  on  the  bowsprit 
bitts,  and  shot  ahead  in  the  following  style :  ; 

"  My  young  friend,  I  once  found  myself  in  Rio  Janeiro, 
without  money,  friends,  or  a  sliip,  which  I  hope  will  never 
prove  to  be  your  case,  when  the  whaling  barque  Loon,  be 
longing  to  Nantucket,  put  into  the  harbor  for  supplies.  The 
barque  was  in  want  of  men,  having  lost  a  whole  boat's-crew 
in  an  encounter  with  a  sperm  whale  about  a  week  before  she 
arrived  in  port.  I  gladly  seized  the  opportunity  to  join  her 
and  embark  on  a  whaling-voyage.  On  leaving  Rio  we  steered 
directly  for  the  Brazil  Banks,  a  famous  place  for  whales,  and 
men  were  stationed  at  the  mast-head  all  day  long  on  the 
lookout. 

.  "  One  morning  a  cry  was  heard  from  aloft :  l  There  she 
spouts !  There  she  spouts !  An  eighty-barrel  whale,  as 
sure  as  I'm  a  sinner ! ' 

"  l~  Where  away  ?'  shouted  Captain  Stockman. 


184  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"  *  Under  the  lee  beam,  about  a  couple  of  miles  off! '  was 
the  reply. 

"  The  bark  was  put  off  before  the  wind,  the  yards  were 
squared,  and  we  ran  down  towards  the  big  fish.  All  was 
excitement.  Our  three  whale-boats  were  ready  for  action, 
and  every  man  seemed  eager  to  make  the  attack.  I  was 
stationed  in  the  second  mate's  boat,  and  as  we  neared  the 
fish  the  bark  was  hove-to,  and  the  word  was  given  to  lower 
away  the  boats  and  shove  off.  And  away  we  went  in  full 
chase  after  the  whale. 

"  And  now  ensued  a  trial  of  strength  and  skill  of  a  most 
exciting  character.  The  boats  were  commanded  by  the  cap 
tain  and  the  two  mates,  each  of  whom  seemed  madly  bent 
on  reaching  the  whale  first,  and  sending  a  harpoon  into  his 
body. 

"I  must  confess  I  did  not  share  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
officers  and  those  of  the  crew  who  had  been  long  in  the 
business.  A  whale  is  a  powerful  fish,  and  when  in  his  tan 
trums  difficult  to  manage.  The  stories  I  had  heard  about 
him  did  not  place  his  character  in  the  most  amiable  light. 
I  felt  somewhat  nervous  as  we  drew  towards  the  monster, 
and  would  have  given  all  my  profits  on  the  voyage  to  have 
exchanged  places  with  the  ship-keeper  who  was  left  on  board. 
But  it  could  not  be.  I  was  fairly  in  for  it,  and  pulled  heartily 
at  my  oar,  and  tried  to  wear  a  bold  face. 

"  I  soon  heard  the  captain  and  chief  mate  earnestly  en 
couraging  the  men  in  their  respective  boats  to  exert  all  their 
strength  to  win  the  race,  and  Mr.  Kamworth,  the  second 
mate,  who  steered  our  boat,  a  tall  and  powerful  man,  was 
not  behind-hand  in  urging  the  men  to  the  work. 

"  ;  Pull  men  ! '  said  he.  '  Do  pull !  Bend  your  backs  to 
the  oars  !  Send  her  ahead,  like  good  fellows  !  Let's  be  first 
alongside  !  Do  pull  for  once  in  your  lives !  Mr.  Garvill's 
boat  is  gaming  on  us !  Why  don't  you  pull,  you  miserable, 


THE    WHALE-FISHERY.  185 

lazy  ragamuffins  ?  Why  don't  you  lay  out  your  strength  ? 
That's  right !  There  she  shoots  ahead  !  Hurrah,  keep  that 
stroke,  and  we  shall  be  first  on  his  hump  !  Stand  by,  har- 
pooner !  Stand  by,  and  give  it  to  him  good ! ' 

"  When  the  whale  rose  again  to  the  surface  to  spout,  our 
boat  was  about  an  oar's  length  ahead  of  the  captain's  boat, 
and  Mr.  Kainworth  steered  directly  for  the  body  dt  the  whale. 
As  the  boat  came  in  contact  with  the  fish,  the  harpooner, 
standing  in  the  bow  of  the  boat,  threw  his  instrument  with 
all  the  force  of  which  he  was  master  into  the  back  of  the 
huge  animal,  at  the  same  time  exclaiming,  '  Stern  all ! ' 
which  was  an  order  to  back  the  boat  astern  with  all  possible 
dispatch,  in  order  to  avoid  a  blow  from  the  big  fish's  tail 
while  he  was  going  down. 

"And  down  he  went  —  down — down,  carrying  with  him  an 
immense  length  of  line  which  was  attached  to  the  harpoon. 
A  hundred  fathoms  at  least  ran  out  before  the  line  began  to 
slacken,  a  sign  that  he  was  again  coming  to  the  surface  to 
spout  or  breathe.  We  hauled  upon  the  line  to  keep  it  tight, 
while  the  persecuted  animal  rose  to  the  top  of  the  water, 
when  Mr.  Kamworth  was  ready  to  thrust  the  deadly  lance 
into  his  vitals.  The  other  boats  were  also  on  hand,  and 
their  commanders  with  their  lances  assisted  in  the  work. 

"  The  whale  again,  convulsed  with  agony,  disappeared  from 
view,  but  soon  rose,  and  a  shout  of  exultation  sounded  over 
the  water,  from  the  crews  of  the  boats,  as  they  beheld  the 
•  monster  spouting  blood  !  a  sign  that  he  had  received  his  mor 
tal  wound.  He  lashed  the  waves  with  his  enormous  tail, 
and  made  tremendous  struggles  in  his  dying  moments,  but 
luckily  the  boats  were  kept  out  of  his  reach.  His  struggles 
were  too  violent  to  last  long.  He  turned  over  on  his  side, 
and  floated,  a  lifeless  mass. 

"  The  boats  were  fastened  to  the  carcass,  which  was  soon 
towed  alongside  the  ship.  Tackles  were  made  fast  to  it  to 


186  MARK  ROWLAND. 

keep  it  steady,  and  the  operation  of  "flenching"  com 
menced  ;  that  is,  stripping  the  blubber  from  the  back  and 
sides,  and  stowing  it  away  on  board,  where  it  was  after 
wards  tried  out  in  immense  try-pots.  Being  thus  converted 
into  oil,  it  was  deposited  in  casks,  that  were  stowed  in  the 
hold. 

"A  few  Aiys  after  this  successful  attack  on  the  whale,  and 
the  whole  operation  was  a  new  and  deeply  interesting  one 
to  me,  we  made  war  upon  another  of  these  ponderous  crea 
tures.  This  proved  to  be  a  sperm  whale,  and  an  ugly,  ob 
stinate  fellow  into  the  bargain.  He  was  struck  by  the  cap 
tain,  and  went  down  as  if  changed  into  lead.  When  he 
came  up,  either  by  accident  or  design,  he  rose  directly  be 
neath  the  second  mate's  boat,  in  which  I  was  stationed, 
which  he  struck  with  such  force  as  to  send  it  flying  a  dozen 
feet  in  the  air  and  spilling  out  the  men  and  other  contents, 
in  the  most  awkward  and  extraordinary  manner  imaginable. 
The  boat  was  shattered  to  pieces,  and  I  was  landed  on  the 
back  of  the  whale,  stupified  and  badly  hurt  by  the  fall,  and 
hardly  knowing  what  course  to  take. 

' "  '  Jump  overboard ! '  exclaimed  the  captain,  who  was  in 
his  boat  a  few  fathoms  off,  calmly  surveying  the  scene,  '  and 
we  will  pick  you  up/ 

"The  whale,  however,  saved  me  the  trouble ;  for  before  I 
could  collect  my  scattered  senses,  he  turned  a  sort  of  half 
somerset,  and  threw  me  from  his  back  into  the  water.  As 
my  arm  was  broken  in  the  fracas,  and  I  never  was  much  of 
a  swimmer,  I  should  have  been  drowned  had  not  the  other 
boats  been  at  hand.  Mr.  Kamworth  and  one  other  of  the 
boat's  crew  were  never  seen  after  the  boat  was  demolished. 
The  others  were  all  saved  without  having  received  any  seri 
ous  injury.  Not  having  a  chance  to  send  a  lance  into  this 
whale,  the  rascal  got  away,  carrying  with  him  a  couple  of 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY.  187 

harpoons,  which  must  have  tickled  him  to  some  purpose,  and 
two  tubs  of  whale  line. 

"Several  weeks  passed  before  I  was  able  to  attend  to  my 
duties,  for,  besides  my  broken  arm,  a  couple  of  my  ribs 
were  fractured,  and  what  was  of  more  importance,  my  nose 
was  put  out  of  joint  by  a  blow  from  one  of  the  boat's 
, thwarts,  and  my  beauty  was  spoiled  forever!  While  I  was 
laid  up,  the  ship's  company  had  managed  to  capture  another 
of  these  big  fish,  but  the  captain,  disgusted  with  such  slow 
work,  determined  to  change  his  fishing-ground,  and  accor 
dingly  we  passed  around  Cape  Horn,  and  entered  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

"  This  proved  to  be  a  most  unfortunate  movement  for  the 
owner,  captain,  and  all  hands.  For  my  own  part,  I  had  al 
ready  got  enough  of  the  whaling  business  to  satisfy  any  rea 
sonable  man,  and  should  have  been  well  content  to  have 
gone  home  with  half  a  cargo  of  oil ;  but  I  was  destined  to 
see  more  of  the  pleasant  mysteries  of  the  /  whale-fishery ; 
enough  to  last  me  my  lifetime,  should  I  live  as  many  years 
as  Methuselah. 

"  One  day,  while  cruising  for -sperm  whales,  we  fell  in  with  a 
monster  of  a  fish.  Captain  Stockman,  who  had  followed  the 
business  for  many  years,  said  it  was  the  largest  whale  he 
ever  met  with,  being  at  least  one  hundred  feet  in  length. 
He  was  an  old  cruiser,  full  of  wickedness,  a  stranger  to  fear, 
and  probably  owed  the  whalemen  a  grudge.  It  required 
courage  to  attack  a  sperm  whale  of  that  size  and  character, 
for  they  are  exceedingly  -knowing,  and  sometimes  exercise 
their  immense  strength  and  pow^r  in  a  way  which  complete 
ly  turns  the  tables  on  their  antagonists.  Captain  Stockman, 
however,  declared  that  he  feared  no  whale  that  ever  spouted, 
and  ordered  the  boats  to  be  lowered.  Away  we  went,  full 
of  life  and  energy,  with  a  determination  to  attack  and  con 
quer  this  king  of  whales. 


188  MARK  ROWLAND.     . 

'•  The  captain  took  the  lead  in  the  chase,  but  he  was  closely 
followed  by  the  other  boats.  The  whale  was  moving  lazily 
about  on  the, top  of  the  water  as  the  boat  approached  him, 
and  the  harpooner  thrust  two  irons,  one  after  the  other,  into 
his  massive  sides.  This  unprovoked  attack  awakened  him 
with  a  vengeance.  But  instead  of  going  down,  in  order  to 
escape  from  his  enemies,  and  showing  us  his  flukes,  as  a  de 
cent  and  well-behaved  whale  would  have  done,  he  turned 
short  round  on  his  heel  to  face  them  and  fight  them. 

"  He  saw  the  captain's  boat,  which  was  not  ten  fathoms  off, 
and  rushed  towards  it  with  his  jaws  wide  open.  And,  my 
lad,  you  cannot  conceive  of  a  more  dreadful,  appalling  sight, 
than  was  witnessed  by  that  ship's  company,  as  the  angry 
monster  rushed  upon  the  boat* 

"  '  Pull  for  your  lives,  men  ! '  screamed  the  captain.  But 
the  men  were  stupified  with  horror.  They  uttered  in  chorus 
one  agonizing  shriek,  and  the  whale  was  upon  them.  He 
seized  the  boat  between  his  enormous  jaws,  and  crushed  it 
like  a  craw-fish.  The  boat's  crew,  with  one  exception,  bare 
ly  saved  themselves  from  instant  death  by  leaping  into  the 
water.  Poor  Bob  Merlin,  whom  fear  had  robbed  of  his 
strength,  shared  the  fate  of  the  boat.  The  captain  and  the 
remainder  of  the  boat's  crew  were  picked  up  by  the  two 
other  boats. 

"  Our  attention  was  directed  to  the  strange  conduct  of  the 
whale.  He  seemed  really  mad,  swimming  about  on  the  sur 
face,  and  furiously  lashing  the  water  with  his  tail.  After 
amusing  himself  in  this  manner  a  few  minutes,  he  steered  a 
course  which  led  him  nearer  the  barque,  which  was  still 
lying-to.  He  soon  saw  the  barque,  and  regarded  her  as  his 
mortal  foe  on  which  he  was  determined  to  wreak  his  ven 
geance,  for  he  increased  his  speed,  and  altered  his  course, 
steering  directly  for  the  vessel. 

"The  savage  animal  rushed  towards  her  with  his  mouth 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY.  189 

open,  to  the  great  terror  of  our  shipkeeper  and  cook,  the 
only  persons  on  board.  He  seized  the  ship  by  the  bends 
with  his  teeth,  and  vainly  attempted  to  demolish  what  he 
undoubtedly  supposed  to  be  a  huge  animal.  But  finding  his 
efforts  unsuccessful,  as  if  gifted  with  reason,  he  went  anoth 
er  way  to  work.  He  turned  round  and  swam  off  some  thir 
ty  or  forty  fathoms,  then  again  changed  front,  and  rushed 
with  almost  lightning  speed,  directly  towards  the  ship. 

"  His  mouth  was  not  open  this  time,  but  his  hard,  bony,  and 
enormous  head  struck  the  barque  Loon  on  the  starboard 
bow,  just  beneath  the  fore  chain-wales,  with  all  the  force  of  a 
gigantic  battering-ram,  and  crushed  in  the  planks  and  tim 
bers,  making  a  wide  hole,  through  which  the  water  rushed 
like  a  sluice-way.  The  ship  filled  in  a  few  minutes  and  fell 
over  on  her  beam-ends. 

"  The  mad  whale,  as  if  satisfied  with  the  vengeance  he  had 
inflicted  on  his  enemies,  turned  about,  and  passing  between 
the  two  boats,  which  he  did  not  seem  to  notice,  and  with  the 
two  harpoons,  whale  lines  and  all,  still  sticking  in  his  side, 
swam  rapidly  off  to  the  southward,  and  was  soon  lost  to 
view. 

"  We  were  now  in  a  most  distressing  condition.  Twenty 
men  in  two  whale-boats,  adrift  on  the  broad  Pacific,  without 
sails,  provisions,  or  water,  excepting  a  couple  of  kegs  which 
had  been  put  in  the  boats  for  immediate  use,  when  the  boats 
first  left  the  barque.  The  barque  was  full  of  water,  and  the 
waves  were  breaking  over  her  sides  and  decks,  so  we  could 
get  nothing  from  the  hold  or  steerage.  Lingering  death  by 
starvation  seemed  to  be  our  certain  destiny.  In  that  hour 
of  distress,  Captain  Stockman,  who  was  a  pious  man,  prayed 
to  our  heavenly  Father  to  assist  us  and  save  us. 

S1  The  men  were  equally  divided  between  the  two  boats. 
The  captain  took  charge  of  one  and  the  chief  mate  the  other. 
According  to  the  captain's  reckoning  we  were  nearly  in  the 


190  MARK  ROWLAND. 

latitude  of  the  island  of  Masafuera  when  the  disaster  took 
place,  and  about  two  hundred  miles  to  the  westward.  This 
island  was  the  nearest  land,  and  the  captain  ordered  the 
oars  to  be  manned,  and  the  boats  to  be  pulled  in  that  direc 
tion,  the  course  being  indicated  by  the  compass,  there  being 
one  in  each  boat,  by  day,  and  by  the  moon  and  stars  by 
night. 

"  The  captain  encouraged  us  all  by  his  example  and  his 
cheering  words.  He  recommended  that  one  half  of  each 
boat's  crew  should  labor  at  the  oars  while  the  others  took 
their  rest.  And  he  assured  us  that  if  we  worked  hard  and 
constantly,  we  might,  with  divine  assistance,  reach  the  land 
before  we  became  entirely  exhausted  by  want  of  sustenance. 

"  There  was  comfort  in  his  words,  for  life  is  sweet,  and  a 
man  will  do  much  to  prolong  his  days,  however  miserable 
they  may  be.  We  promised  to  act  on  his  suggestion,  and 
obey  him  in  everything;  and  just  as  night  came  on,  we 
started  off  for  the  island  of  Masafuera,  with  the  sea  tolerably 
smooth,  and  the  wind  light  from  the  southward.  And  a 
hard  time  we  had  of  it,  Mark,  I  assure  you  ;  but  we  kept  the 
boat  going  through  the  water  with  her  bows  pointed  towards 
the  island.  We  encouraged  each 'other  as  well  as  we  could, 
and'  bore  our  deprivations  manfully,  and  during  the  first 
twenty-four  hours  we  must  have  proceeded  at  least  a  hun 
dred  miles. 

"  The  boats  kept  company  through  the  first  night  and  the 
following  day,  but  on  the  second  night  the  men  became 
weary,  and  suffered  much  for  want  of  food  and  water, 
the  small  quantity  which  we  had  in  the  boats  when  we  left 
the  ship  affording  but  slight  relief.  Their  efforts  at  the  oars 
were  not  so  steady  and  uninterrupted  as  at  first.  In  the 
middle  of  the  night  a  squall  arose,  and  we  lost  sight  of  our 
companion,  I  being  in  the  captain's  boat,  and  we  had  much 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY.  191 

ado  to  keep  the  boat  head  to  wind,  to  prevent  her  being 
swamped. 

"  Towards  morning  the  wind  died  away,  and  the  sea  became 
comparati\7ely  smooth,  and  before  the  sun  rose  we  looked 
around  with  much  anxiety  for  our  consort,  but  to  our  great 
grief  and  disappointment  no  boat  was  to  be  seen.  The  sea 
had  undoubtedly  swept  over  her  during  the  height  of  the 
squall,  and  my  unfortunate  shipmates  were  drowned. 

"  On  the  third  evening  of  our  perilous  voyage,  soon  after 
sunset,  having  been  about  forty-eight  hours  in  the  boat,  de 
prived  of  all  sustenance,  and  almost  dying  of  fatigue  and 
hunger,  the  captain,  whose  courage  and  hope  never  for  a 
moment  deserted  him,  after  gazing  intently  in  the  direction 
which  we  were  steering,  with  a  joyful  shout  announced  the 
glad  tidings  that  land  was  in  sight !  and  directed  our  atten 
tion  to  what  appeared  to  be  a  low,  dark,  ragged  cloud,  rest 
ing  on  the  eastern  horizon.  This  he  told  us  was  the  island 
of  Masafuera. 

"  We  moved  slowly  through  the  water  the  following  night, 
after  resting  on  our  oars,  lest  we  should  pass  the  island  in 
the  darkness ;  and  when  morning  came,  the  island,  a  mass 
of  barren  rocks,  rising  more  than  two  thousand  feet  above 
sea,  was  not  more  than  fifteen  miles  off.  With  a  good  will 
we  pulled  towards  it,  selected  a  spot  where  we  could  land  in 
safety,  and  sprang  upon  the  shore,  grateful  to  God  for  his 
signal  mercy  in  saving  us  from  destruction. 

"  But  our  situation  even  now  was  far  from  enviable.  Mas 
afuera  is  an  uninhabited  island  about  ten  miles  in  circumfer 
ence,  possessing  no  vegetation,  and  providing  but  scant 
means  for  sustaining  life.  And  our  spirits  were  by  no 
means  cheered  by  finding  not  far  from  the  spot  on  which  we 
landed,  and  only  a  few  fathoms  from  the  beach,  two  human 
skeletons,  which  told  us  a  fearful  story  of  suffering,  and  lin 
gering  death  by  starvation. 


192  MARK  ROWLAND. 

"  We  found  some  water  in  the  hollows  of  rocks,  which 
greatly  refreshed  us  ;  we  also  procured  'some  shell-fish,  and 
knocked  over  a  few  birds,  which  we  ate  with  a  good  appe 
tite  without  cooking.  But  if  we  had  had  no  boat  by  which 
to  leave  the  island,  we  should  have  been  worse  off  than  you 
were  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  with  a  far  more  distant  pros 
pect  of  being  taken  off  by  some  passing  vessel. 

"  After  tarrying  on  the  island  a  couple  of  days,  and  recov 
ering  somewhat  from  our  fatigue,  we  again  embarked  in  our 
boat,  still  steering  to  the  eastward,  and  on  the  second  day 
in  the  afternoon  happily  succeeded  in  landing  on  the  famous 
island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  where  Robinson  Crusoe  many 
years  ago  experienced  some  strange  adventures,  which  I 
dare  say  you  have  read  about,  Mark.  We  found  on  the 
island  some  hospitable  people,  who  treated  us  with  kindness, 
and  provided  us  with  the  means  of  reaching  Valparaiso. 
From  that  port  I  worked  my  passage  in  a  ship  to  Boston, 
and  of  one  thing  I  am  certain,  you  will  never  catch  me  in  a 
whaling  ship  again.  And  as  for  whales,  I  always  like  to 
give  them  a  good  berth,  with  the  full  understanding  that  if 
they  will  let  me  alone,  I  will  let  them  alone." 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

SAFELY  LANDED. 

IT  was  about  eight  o'clock  when  the  breeze  sprung  up  from 
the  southward,  and  in  an  hour  afterwards,  bearing  three 
points  on  the  weather-bow,  and  looming  up  from  the  haze 
which  still  hung  low,  Mark  Rowland  saw  from  aloft  the 
whole  structure  of  the  lofty  light-house,  and  the  high,  uneven 
lands  on  the  back  of  Cape  Cod. 

"  Land  ho ! "  he  shouted,  with  delight,  and  hastened  down 
on  deck. 

"Land  ho!"  was  joyfully  responded  by  the  officers  and 
men.  "  Hurrah !  Cape  Cod  is  in  sight !  " 

The  land  could  now  be  seen  from  the  deck,  and  the  course 
of  the  ship  being  slightly  altered,  and  the  sails  trimmed 
accordingly,  she  rapidly  appr6ached  that  wild-looking,  unin 
viting  coast,  the  first  land  seen  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
which  in  the  gloomy  month  of  December  must  have  looked 
terribly  grim  and  forbidding ;  and  by  twelve  o'clock  that 
day  the  ship  was  up  with  Race  Point,  and  had  fairly  entered 
Massachusetts  Bay. 

The^  harbor  of  Provincetown  was  now  plainly  in  sight,  and 
soon  was  seen  the  range  of  coast  in  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth, 
immortalized  by  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and,  in 
swift  succession,  the  high  lands  of  Marshfield,  Cohasset 
Rocks,  the  Blue  Hills  in"  the  distance,  Boston  light-house, 
and  Point  Alderton,  with  the  dark  and  broken  ledges  of 

17  193 


194  MARK  ROWLAND. 

rocks  which  line  the  entrance  to  Boston  harbor,  while  ships, 
brigs,  schooners,  sloops,  and  sail-boats,  with  their  snow- 
white  sails,  dotted  the  smooth  sea  in  every  direction. 

As  Mark  Rowland  gazed  admiringly  on  the  scene,  and 
spoke  enthusiastically  in  its  praise,  old  Jack  Radkin  shook 
his  head,  and  showed  by  his  looks  that  the  scene  had  no 
charms  for  him. 

u  Is  not  this  a  cheerful  sight,  Jack?"  inquired  Mark. 
"  Can  there  be  anything  more  beautiful  than  Massachusetts 
Bay  ?  How  mild  and  balmy  the  atmosphere  !  How  smooth 
the  waters !  How  clear  and  distinct  the  wavy  outline  of  the 
land ! " 

"  Oh,"  replied  Jack,  with  a  grim  smile,  "this  is  all  well 
enough  at  this  pleasant  season  of  the  year,  returning  home 
in  a  fine  ship,  with  a  quiet  sea  and  a  fair  wind.  But  to 
judge  fairly  of  its  character,  you  should  see  it  in  a  heavy 
north-east  gale,  blowing  right  on  shore,  with  a  raging  sea  like 
a  range  of  young  mountains,  rolling  in  all  the  way  from 
Cape  Sable  ;  the  weather  thick  and  rainy ;  breakers  ahead  or 
under  your  lee  on  either  tack ;  your  ship  deeply  laden,  and 
driven  almost  bodily  to  leeward ;  and  you  have  the  choice 
of  two  evils,  —  to  cut  away  your  masts  by  the  deck,  let  go 
all  your  anchors,  and  try  to  ride  it  out  in  poor  holding 
ground,  or  plump  her  ashore  on  the  beach,  with  about  one 
chance  in  ten  of  reaching  the  shore  alive." 

"  If  you  want  to  see  Boston  Bay  in  all  its  glory,"  said 
Archie  Stobbs,  joining  in  the  conversation,  "  you  should 
come  on  the  coast,  as  I  have  done,  in  the  winter  season,  in  a 
leaky  ship,  after  a  long  passage  across  the  Atlantic,  short  of 
provisions  and  water,  sails  all  blown  to  pieces,  men  worn  out 
and  discouraged  with  hard  work,  famine,  and  exposure  ;  your 
ship  covered  with  a  solid  body  of  ice  a  foot  thick ;  running 
rigging  too  stiff  to  be  used ;  the  thick  sheets  of  spray  dash 
ing  over  the  decks,  fore  and  aft ;  the  forecastle,  bed-clothes, 


,  *  SAFELY    LANDED.  195 

and  jackets,  soaked  with  salt  water,  and  the  wind  blowing  'a 
hurricane  directly  out  of  the  bay,f  with  the  thermometer  at 
zero !  Ah,  my  lad,  if  you  were  to  witness  a  few  scenes  of 
this  description,  you  would  know  how  to  value  plenty  of  sea- 
room,  off  soundings,  and  talk  less  about  a  sailor's  pleasures 
in  coming  on  the  coast.*' 

"  I  talk  of  it  as  I  find  it,"  said  Mark ;  "  but,  after  this 
description  of  your  experience,  Archie,  and  Jack  Radkin's 
glowing  account  of  the  charms  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  a 
north-east  storm,  you  will  never  catch  me  coming  on  the  New- 
England  coast  in  the  winter  season ; "  and  he  added,  in  a 
lower  tone,  "  or  in  any  other  season." 

If  the  truth  must  be  told,  Mark's  adventures  on  the  island 
of  St.  Paul,  and  the  dark  scenes  he  had  witnessed,  typical 
of  a  sailor's  life,  had  no  attractions  in  his  eyes ;  they  were 
by  no  means  to  his  taste.  Indeed,  he  was  strongly  inclined 
to  believe  that  those  who  wrote  prose  and  poetry  in  praise 
of  the  sea,  and  described  in  glowing  terms  the  pleasurable 
excitement,  the  wild  joys  and  sunshine  of  a  sailor's  life,  were 
little  better  than  arrant  humbugs,  and  either  knew  nothing 
of  the  trials,  temptations,  and  perils,  of  a  life  at  sea,  or, 
like  the  fox  who  had  lost  his  tail,  were  desirous  that  others 
should  undergo  the  same  pain  and  humiliation  which  he  him 
self  had  suffered. 

His  bosom  throbbed  with  delight  at  the  near  prospect  of 
embracing  his  mother  and  the  dear  ones  whom  he  left  in  the 
humble  cottage  at  Glenmaple.  But  his  features  became 
clouded  with  apprehension,  when  he  reflected  that  a  year  and 
a  half  had  passed  since  he  left  his  home,  and  unforeseen  evils 
might  have  befallen  them  during  his  absence.  He  deter 
mined,  however,  that,  if  ho  should  succeed  in  getting  once 
more  snugly  seated  at  his  mother's  fireside,  he  would  never 
voluntarily  separate  from  hor  again ;  their  fortunes,  whether 
for  weal  or  woe,  henceforth  should  be  the  same. 


196 


MARK  ROWLAND. 


The  ship  Rosamond  arrived  off  Boston  light-house  about 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  but  the  wind  being  light,  and  the 
tide  on  the  ebb,  it  was  found  expedient  to  anchor  in  the 
roads,  and  the  ship  did  not  reach  the  city  until  the  next 
morning. 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  when  Mark  lightly  bounded  on 
the  wharf,  and,  with  a  joyous  heart,  proceeded  to  the  count 
ing-room  of  Mr.  Fortesque.  That  gentleman  did  not  im 
mediately  recognize  him,  rigged  as  he  was  in  a  neat  and 
becoming  suit  of  clothes,  purchased  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  rejoicing  in  features  bronzed  by  exposure  to  the 
sun  for  many  months ;  besides,  Mark  had  grown  nearly  a 
head  taller,  and  looked  far  more  like  a  man  than  the  simple 
country  lad  whom  he  parted  with  on  the  wharf  some  eighteen 
months  before. 

But  when  Mr.  Fortesque  found  it  was  Mark  Rowland  who 
was  before  him,  the  bright-looking  boy  who  had  left  Boston 
in  the  ship  Saladin,  and  whom  he  believed  to  have  been  lost 
by  some, mishap  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  he  eagerly 
grasped  his  hand,  and  could  hardly  contain  his  astonishment 
and  pleasure.  He  made  him  sit  down,  and  give  a  full  de 
scription  of  his  adventures,  to  which  he  listened  with  intense 
interest.  When  Mark  had  finished  his  story,  Mr.  Fortesque 
again  shook  him  by  the  hand,  congratulated  him  on  his  good 
fortune  in  escaping  from  the  island  and  taking  with  him 
such  a  rich  prize,  and  promised  to  be  a  friend  to  him  through 
life.  He  advised  him  in  regard  to  the  disposition  of  the 
merchandise  belonging  to  him  on  board  the  Rosamond,  and 
supplied  him  with  money  for  his  immediate  wants,  and  thus 
anticipated  the  kind  offers  of  the  generous-hearted  Captain 
Lamark. 

The  next  morning  Mark  Rowland,  with  buoyant  spirits, 
'entered  the  railroad  car  which  would  convey  him  some  thirty 
miles  on  the  route  towards  his  native  village  of  Glenmaple. 


SAFELY    LANDED.  197 

The  mode  of  conveyance  was  new  to  him,  but  he  liked  it  on 
account  of  the  rapidity  with  which  it  hurried  him  towards 
his  home.  Soon  after  he  was  seated,  a  gentleman  with  his 
wife  and  a  little  girl  came  into  the  car.  The  lady  and  gen 
tleman  took  the  seat  immediately  behind  him ;  while  the 
girl,  a  bright-eyed,  intelligent-looking  fairy,  some  ten  or 
twelve  years  of  age,  took  the  vacant  seat  by  his  side.  The 
cars  started,  and  Mark  and  the  little  girl  engaged  in 
conversation,  which  to  him  was  a  source  of  great  pleasure, 
as  he  had  so  long  been  debarred  from  the  society  of  those 
sweeteners  of  existence,  —  women  and  children. 

The  attention  of  Mark  was  soon  arrested  by  a  name  which 
was  marked  on  the  kerchief  which  the  girl  held  in  her  hand, 
"EUaRimngtont" 

"  Is  that  your  name  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied. 

"  What  is  your  father's  name?" 

"  James  Stanley  Rivington." 

,"  Where  is  your  father  now?  "  inquired  Mark,  in  a  voice 
and  manner  so  excited  as  almost  to  frighten  the  little  girl. 

"  There  he  sits,  right  behind  you,"  said  she. 

Mark  turned  his  head  quickly,  and  found  himself  face  to 
face  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rivington,  the  same  persons  who 
were  rescued  from  the  wreck  of  the  ship  Clarion,  of  Salem, 
on  the  passage  of  the  ship  Saladin  towards  the  equator. 

Mr.  Rivington  had  but  recently  arrived  from  South  Amer 
ica.  He  was  still  connected  with  a  mercantile  house  in 
Boston,  doing  a  large  business  with  Brazil,  and,  with  his 
wife  and  daughter,  was  now  on  a  visit  to  his  parents,  who 
resided  in  a  town  forty  miles  from  Boston,  and  through 
which  the  railroad  passed. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Mr.  Rivington  on  his  arrival  at 
Boston,  was  to  call  on  Mr.  Fortesque,  the  owner  of  the  ship 
Saladin,  and  express  his  deep  sense  of  the  noble  conduct  of 

17* 


198  MARK  ROWLAND. 

Captain  Somers  and  the  whole  ship's  company,  in  rescuing 
him  and  his  wife  from  a  dreadful  death,  and  ministering  to 
their  comfort  after  they  were  taken  on  board  the  ship.  He 
spoke  in  exalted  terms  of  the  activity,  intelligence,  and 
worth  of  the  cabin-boy,  Mark  Rowland,  in  whose  success  in 
life  he  said  he  felt  an  especial  interest,  and  was  greatly 
shocked  to  learn  he  had  met  with  a  fatal  accident  on  a 
desert  isle  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean. 

This  unexpected  rencounter  in  a  railroad  car  was,  indeed, 
a  joyous 'one.  Mr.  Rivington  owed  Mark  a  debt  of  grati 
tude  for  having  discovered  the  sunken  wreck,  and  he  and  his 
wife  had  deeply  mourned  what  they  believed  to  be  his  sad 
and  untimely  fate.  They  indulged  in  heartfelt  pleasure  at 
meeting  him  again ;  at  not  only  finding  him  alive,  but  im 
proved  in  strength,  beauty,  and  manliness. 

The  sailor-boy  and  the  merchant  had  much  to  say  to  each 
other,  and  it  seemed  as  if  they  had  hardly  exchanged  con 
gratulations,  before  the  train  reached  the  station  at  which 
Mark  was  to  take  the  stage-coach  to  Glenmaple.  Anxious 
to  see  his  mother,  Mark  resisted  the  pressing  invitation  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rivington  to  go  on  with  them,  and  pass  a  day 
or  two  with  their  relations. 

"  Well,  Mark,"  said  Mr.  Rivington,  "  I  shall  be  absent 
from  my  business  but  a  few  days,  and  when  you  return  to 
Boston,  I  shall"  expect  you  to  come  directly  to  my  house. 
It  is  easily  found,  and  you  may  be  sure  of  a  hearty  wel 
come." 

"Yes,"  added  Mrs.  Rivington,  "you  must  take  up  your 
abode  with- us  while  you  are  in  the  city.  I  shall  always  look 
upon  you  as  a  near  and  valued  friend,  —  as  belonging  to  us." 

Mark  was  greatly  embarrassed  by  such  manifestations  of 
kindness,  and  was  proceeding  to  disclaim  any  merit  or  ser 
vices  on  his  part  that  entitled  him  to  such  favor,  when  he 
was  interrupted'  by  little  Ella,  who  said,  "  Oh,  you  must 


SAFELY   LANDED.  199 

coine,  Mark.  You  don't  know  how  much  father  and  mother 
have  talked  about  you  since  they  came  home ;  and  mother 
cried  when  she  told  me  how  you  fell  off  the  rocks  into  the 
sea,  and  was  drowned.  Promise  me  that  you  will  come." 

Mark  Rowland  promised. 

He  had  to  wait  fully  an  hour  at  the  railway  station,  before 
the  stage  was  ready  to  start ;  and  that  hour,  while  he  was 
lounging  about  the  rooms,  jostling  against  strangers  in 
whom  he  took  no  interest,  and  watching  the  movements 
of  the  clock,  which  he  thought,  once  or  twice,  had  stopped, 
it  moved  so  slow,  seemed  the  longest  hour  of  his  life. 

But  time  passed  onward  with  steady,  measured  steps,  and 
the  stage-coach  made  its  appearance.  The  driver  promised 
Mark  that  before  sunset  he  should  be  safely  landed  within 
a  stone's  throw  of  his  mother's  door.  The  roads  were  in 
good  condition,  and  the  horses  travelled  rapidly  over  the 
ground,  but  to  Mark  they  seemed  to  be  crawling  along  at  a 
snail's  pace. 

Notwithstanding  his  impatience  to  get  to  the  end  of  his 
journey,  when  he  reached  the  farm-house  in  Westville,  where 
he  was  so  hospitably  entertained  on  his  journey  to  Boston,  he 
called  on  the  driver  to  stop.  He  recognized  the  place,  and 
saw  Mr.  Drummond,  with  his  well-remembered,  benevolent 
visage,  near  the  doorway,  busy  about  some  ",chores."  Mark 
jumped  out  of  the  coach,  and  grasped  the  astonished  farmer 
by  the  hand,  who  could  hardly  be  persuaded  that  this  was 
the  boy  who  had  once  passed  a  night  beneath  his  roof,  on 
his  way  to  the  great  city,  determined  to  try  his  fortunes  on 
the  sea, 

Mr.  Drummond  called  out  his  wife,  who  greeted  Mark 
right  cordially  ;  for  the  kind-hearted  couple  had  felt  quite  an 
interest  in  his  success,  and  had  often  talked  of  him  during 
the  past  year,  and  wondered  what  had  been  the  result  of  his 
bo3'ish  enterprise. 


200  MARK    ROWLAND. 

After  a  few  minutes  conversation,  at  a  hint  from  the 
driver,  Mark  resumed  his  seat.  The  stage-coach  passed 
on.  And  while  Mark  is  on  his  way  to  visit  his  dearly- 
loved  home,  we  will  take  a  look  at  some  other  persons,  and 
inquire  into  events  which  occurred  at  Glenmaple,  while  he 
was  a  solitary  inhabitant  of  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  or  wit 
nessing  the  strange  scenes  which  chequer  the  life  of  a  sailor. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CLOTJDS   AND   SUNSHINE. 

THE  ship  Saladin,  in  which  Mark  Rowland  sailed  from 
Boston,  after  having  encountered  the  furious  squall  near  the 
island  of  St.  Paul,  and  being  driven  away  to  leeward,  pro 
ceeded  slowly  on  her  way,  attempting  to  get  to  the  south 
ward,  Captain  Somers  deeply  lamenting  the  fatal  accident 
that  had  befallen  the  cabin-boy,  who  was,  as  has  already 
been  remarked,  a  general  favorite.  The  captain,  after  hear 
ing  the  representations  of  Mr.  Smeaton,  the  second  mate, 
did  not  for  a  moment  doubt  that  the  little  fellow  had  fallen 
from  a  precipice  into  the  deep  water  at  its  base,  and,  not 
withstanding  his  skill  as  a  swimmer,  had  been  drowned. 
Even  if  he  had  reason  to  suppose  Mark  might  still  be  alive 
on  that  barren  island,  any  attempt  to  render  him  assistance 
would  have  been  unsuccessful,  as  the  deeply-laden  ship,  after 
running  off  so  far  to  leeward,  could  never  have  beat  up  to 
the  island  against  the  trade- wind  and  a  strong  current.  Cap 
tain  Somers -shuddered  when  he  thought  of  the  fate  of  the 
poor  boy  who  was  intrusted  to  his  charge  by  Mr.  Fortesque, 
and  who  promised  to  prove  himself  worthy  of  the  interest 
which  that  merchant  took  in  his  fortunes.  He  shuddered 
when  he  thought  of  the  anguish  his  friends  would  experi 
ence  when  they  should  hear  of  his  melancholy  fate. 

I  have  already  said  that  the  Saladin  was  a  dull-sailing 
ship,  and  after  putting  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rivington  on  board  a 

vessel  bound  to  Pernambuco,  this  vessel  continued  to  fall  to 

201 


202  MARK  ROWLAND. 

leeward  of  her  route,  insomuch  that  Captain  Somers  deemed 
it  expedient  to  put  into  some  port  in  Brazil,  in  order  to  pro 
cure  a  supply  of  provisions.  Accordingly,  in  three  weeks 
after  leaving  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  the  ship  entered  the 
port  of  San  Salvador,  or  as  it  is  often  called,  Bahia,  situ 
ated  on  the  north-western  side  of  the  large  and  beautiful 
Bay  of  All  Saints.  From  this  port  Captain  Somers  wrote 
to  his  employer,  Mr.  Fortesque,  and  gave  him  all  the  partic 
ulars  relating  to  the  landing  of  the  boat's  crew  on  the  island 
of  St.  Paul,  and  the  supposed  melancholy  fate  of  Mark 
Eowland.  Mr.  Fortesque  was  grieved  at  the  intelligence; 
he  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  Mark,  and  predicted  that  he 
would  make  his  way  successfully  through  the  world.  He 
lost  no  time  in  writing  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Rowland,  acquaint 
ing  her  with  the  sad  event,  condoling  with  her  on  her  irre 
parable  misfortune,  and  giving  her  words  of  consolation  and 
kindness. 

But  how  shall  I  describe  the  anguish  of  the  afflicted  widow 
when  she  read  the  letter  which  conveyed  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  her  son.  "  He  had  fallen  from  a  high  cliff"  —  so 
ran  the  words  —  "  into  the  sea  beneath,  and  was  drowned." 

After  reading  this  sad  missive,  the  language  of  which  was 
terribly  explicit,  Mrs.  Rowland  could  not  cherish  the  slight 
est  hope  of  ever  seeing  her  son  again.  "  My  brave  boy !  " 
she  exclaimed.  "  He  exposed  himself  to  the  perils  which 
beset  the  life  of  a  sailor,  not  altogether  because  he  longed 
for  a  roving  life,  and  yearned  to  see  more  of  the  world  and 
mingle  in  its  busiest  scenes,  but  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of 
contributing  to  my  support,  and  that  of  his  brother  and  sis 
ter.  He  went  abroad  to  diminish  my  cares,  and  furnish  us 
all  with  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life.  My  noble  boy ! 
To  meet  such  a  terrible  death  far  away  from  his  home  !  I 
shall  never  see  him  again  on  earth,  but  we  shall  meet  in 
heaven." 


CLOUDS  AND  SUNSHINE.  203 

The  fate  of  Mark  Rowland  was  soon  known  in  the  village 
of  Glenmaple,  and  many  friendly  persons  called  upon  the 
widow  to  console  her  in  affliction,  and  whisper  words  of  com 
fort  in  her  ear.  But  their  well-meant  kindness  failed  to  pro 
duce  the  effect  intended.  She  felt  grateful  for  the  sympathy 
of  her  neighbors,  but  she  was  crushed  to  the  earth  by  the 
weight  of  her  sorrow. 

More  than  twelve  months  passed  away  after  she  heard  of 
the  death  of  her  son,  and  Time,  "  the  great  consoler,"  had 
brought  no  sunshine  to  her  heart.  Her  features,  pallid  and 
wan,  were  overspread  with  a  settled  gloom.  Her  thoughts 
still  dwelt  unceasingly  on  the  excellence  and  affection  of  her 
boy.  Tokens  of  his  devoted  love,  his  industry,  and  his  wis 
dom  above  his  years,  met  her  at  every  turn,  and  re-awakened 
from  hour  to  hour  her  deep-seated  grief. 

Nevertheless,  the  heart-stricken  widow  did  not  forget  that 
two  lovely  and  promising  children  still  clung  to  her  for  sup 
port.  Since  she  learned  that  Mark  had  perished,  she  loved 
them,  if  possible,  with  a  more  devoted  affection  than  before. 
Instead  of  remitting  her  usual  labors,  and  abandoning  her 
self  to  grief,  she  worked  harder  than  ever,  insomuch  that 
her  health,  never  robust,  gave  way,  and  she  saw  before  her 
but  a  dark  and  gloomy  prospect,  in  the  foreground  of  which 
stood  Poverty  and  Disease,  and,  in  the  background,  the 
Almshouse  and  a  tomb ! 

Mrs.  Rowland  was  one  afternoon  seated  at  the  back  win 
dow  of  her  little  cottage.  She  was  feeble,  and  unusually 
pale,  for  she  had  that  day  exerted  herself  beyond  her 
strength.  The  hand  of  sorrow  and  sickness  had  drawn  deep 
furrows  across  her  once  radiant  and  becoming  features.  She 
had  sent  her  little  boy,  Albert,  on  an  errand  to  procure  a 
loaf  of  bread,  for  neither  herself  nor  children  had  tasted 
aught  since  their  scanty  morning  meal,  and  she  had  no  re 
sources  for  the  following  day.  Little  Ellen  was  seated  on  a 


204  MARK  ROWLAND. 

cricket  by  her  side,  reading  aloud  some  passages  from  a 
story-book  that  had  been  given  her  by  one  of  her  school 
mates. 

Mrs.  Rowland  appeared  to  be  listening  attentively,  but  her 
mind  was  elsewhere.  She  was  thinking  of  her  poverty,,  of 
her  broken  health,  and  the  destitute  condition  to  which  her 
children  would  be  reduced,  if  she,  their  only  stay  and  sup 
port,  should  be  removed  by  the  hand  of  death.  The  sun  was 
sinking  beneath  a  distant  range  of  hills  in  the  west,  which, 
perhaps,  added  to  the  depression  of  her  spirits. 

At  this  moment  Albert  rushed  into  the  house,  his  face 
flushed  with  excitement,  and  exclaimed,  with  an  animated 
voice,  "  Oh,  mother,  the  stage  has  just  stopped  at  the  head 
of  the  lane,  and  a  strange  gentleman  has  got  out,  with  a  big 
trunk ;  and  he  is  coming  towards  the  house !  " 

It  was  so  seldom  that  a  case  of  this  kind  occurred,  —  for 
the  poor  and  humble  have  few  visitors,  —  that  Mrs.  Rowland 
was  startled  at  the  abrupt  announcement.  "  Who  is  it, 
Albert  ?  "  inquired  the  widow  of  her  son. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Albert ;  "  but  I  guess  he  does  not 
mean  any  haTm,  mother,  for  he  looks  as  smiling  and  happy 
as  if  he  had  good  news  to  tell  you." 

A  sort  of  indefinite  sensation,  akin  to  hope,  passed 
through  the  bosom  of  the  widow  at  this  intelligence ;  but 
tarried  only  for  an  instant.  She  felt  there  was  no  room  for 
hope.  She  rose  from  her  chair,  and,  with  steps  unsteady 
through  weakness,  walked  towards  the  door  to  inquire  the 
business  of  the  stranger,  who,  with  features  lighted  up  with 
smiles,  was  about  to  visit  the  abode  of  sorrow,  want,  and 
disease. 

She  heard  a  step  on  the  threshold.  She  lifted  the  latch, 
and  beheld  before  her,  with  eyes  sparkling  with  rapture,  and 
a  ruddy,  sun-burnt  visage,  expressing  the  best  emotions  of 


CLOUDS   AND   SUNSHINE.  205 

the  human  heart,  her  long-lost  boy,  her  son  Mark,  whose 
death  she  had  for  many  months  unceasingly  mourned. 

"  Mother !"  exclaimed  Mark,  in  a  well-remembered  voice, 
"  dear  mother !  I  have  come  back  to  bring  you  joy  and 
competence ;  and  we  shall  never  part  again." 

Mrs.  Rowland  was  so  overcome  by  her  feelings,  so  over 
whelmed  with  joy  and  astonishment  combined,  that  it  was 
some  minutes  before  she  was  able  to  say  a  word.  She  wept, 
and  kissed  her  long-lost  son  in  silence  ;  and,  prompted  by  a 
feeling  of  piety,  of  gratitude  towards  her  Maker  for  restor 
ing  the  lost  one  to  her  arms,  sunk  on  her  knees,  and  poured 
out  her  fervent  thanks  for  the  blessing  with  which  she  was 
crowned. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that,  after  the  entrance  of 
Mark,  there  was  no  longer  hunger  or  sorrow  in  that  humble 
dwelling.  Provisions  in  abundance  were  procured  from  the 
nearest  inn,  and  the  children,  as  well  as  the  mother,  made  a 
joyous  meal.  And  I  question  whether  kings  or  princes,  in 
their  gorgeous  palaces,  ever  tasted  a  delight  more  pure  and 
exstatic  than  was  enjoyed  by  that  humble  and  virtuous  fam 
ily  that  evening,  while  the  sailor-boy  was  relating  the  tale 
of  his  adventures,  and  ever  and  anon  answering  the  never- 
ending  questions  of  his  brother  and  sister. 

Mrs.  Rowland  clung  closely  to  her  son,  as  if  she  feared 
the  whole  was  a  blissful  dream,  and  that  she  might  in  a  few 
minutes  awake  to  find  her  joy  changed  to  sorrow,  and  the 
cottage  again  turned  into  a  place  of  mourning.  It  was  at  a 
late  hour  when  the  members  of  that  now  happy  family  re 
tired  to  rest. 

My  tale  is  finished.  Mr.  Fortesque,  as  well  as  Mr.  Riv- 
ington  and  Captain  Lamark,  proved  a  faithful  friend  to 
Mark  Rowland.  The  treasure  which  the  forlorn  sailor-boy 
found  among  the  rocks  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul  was  in 
creased  by  the  prudent  management  of  Captain  Lamark,  and 

18 


206  MARK  ROWLAND. 

being  judiciously  invested,  produced  a  handsome  annual 
income.  Mark  was  thus  enabled  to  gratify  the  darling 
wish  of  his  heart,  —  improve  his  education  ;  and  also  extend 
that  blessing,  with  many  others,  to  his  brother  Albert  and  his 
sister  Ellen. 

His  eighteen  months'  cruise  in  the  ships  Saladin  and  Ro 
samond,  including  his  sufferings  for  months  on  a  desert 
island,  banished  from  the  mind  of  Mark  Rowland  any  yearn 
ings  after  wild  adventures  and  salt-water  scenes.  At  a 
proper  time  he  entered  the  counting-room  of  Rivington  & 
Co.,  in  Boston,  and  applied  himself  unremittingly  to  his  du 
ties,  being  determined  to  qualify  himself  to  become,  not  "  a 
merchant  prince,"  or  any  other  kind  of  prince,  but  a  BOSTON 
MERCHANT,  in  the  truest  and  noblest  sense  of  the  term. 
His  happiness  was  established  on  a  firm  basis,  when  he  se 
cured  the  affections  of  Ella  Rivington,  a  bright  and  bloom 
ing  woman,  every  way  fitted  to  be  the  companion  and  wife 
of  a  man  of  intelligence  and  worth. 

They  were  married,  and  Mark  became  a  partner  in  the 
firm.  He  is  now  at  its  head,  and  is  known  as  a  highly  re 
spected,  useful,  and  influential  member  of  society.  He  is 
philosopher  enough  to  enjoy,  in  their  fullest  extent,  and  with 
feelings  of  pious  gratitude,  the  blessings  with  which  he  is 
crowned,  and  Christian  enough  to  thank  God  that  he  is  able 
as  well  as  willing  to  minister  to  the  happiness  of  others. 


THE   END. 


MARGARET  AND  HER  BRIDESMAIDS, 

By  the  Author  of  "  THE   QUEEN   OP  THE   COUNTY." 
I  vol.,  I2mo.    Elegant  fancy  doth.    Price  $1.75. 


This  fascinating  story  of  "  Six  School  Girls  "  is  as  charm 
ing  a  story  as  has  been  written  for  young  ladies.  The 
talented  author  has  a  great  reputation  in  England,  and  all 
her  books  are  widely  circulated  and  read.  "  Faith  Gartney's 
Girlhood"  and  "Margaret  and  her  Bridesmaids"  should 
stand  side  by  side  in  every  young  lady's  book-case.  Read 
what  the  London  Athenaeum,  the  highest  literary  authority, 
says  of  it :  "  We  may  save  ourselves  the  trouble  of  giving 
any  lengthened  review  of  this  book,  for  we  recommend  all 
who  are  in  search  of  a  fascinating  novel  to  read  it  for  them 
selves.  They  will  find  it  well  worth  their  while.  There  is  a 
freshness  and  originality  about  it  quite  charming,  and  there 
is  a  certain  nobleness  in  the  treatment,  both  of  sentiment 
and  incident,  which  is  not  often  found.  We  imagine  that 
few  can  read  it  without  deriving  some  comfort  or  profit  from 
the  quiet  good  sense  and  unobtrusive  words  of  counsel  with 
which  it  abounds." 

The  story  is  very  interesting.  It  is  the  history  of  six 
school-fellows.  Margaret,  the  heroine,  is,  of  course,  a 
woman  in  the  highest  state  of  perfection.  But  Lotty  —  the 
little,  wilful,  wild,  fascinating,  brave  Lotty  —  is  the  gem  of 
the  book,  and,  as  far  as  our  experience  in  novel  reading  goes, 
is  an  entirely  original  character  —  a  creation  —  and  a  very 
charming  one.  No  story  that  occurs  to  our  memory  contains 
more  interest  than  this  for  novel  readers,  particularly  those 
of  the  tender  sex,  to  whom  it  will  be  a  dear  favorite. 

We  hope  the  authoress  will  give  us  some  more  novels,  as 
good  as  u  Margaret  and  her  Bridesmaids." 


THE  QUEEN  OF  THE  COUNTY, 

By  the  Author  of  "  MARGARET  AND  HER  BRIDESMAIDS." 
1  vol.,  I2mo.    Elegant  fancy  cloth.    Price  $1.75. 

Of  all  the  books  published  or  republished  by  Mr.  Loring,  this 
winter,  this  is  the  best.  Yet  when  asked  what  we  like  so  much  in 
it,  we  find  it  difficult  to  tell  and  leave  our  explanations  midway,  to 
indulge  in  such  young-lady  isms  as  "  Charming ! "  "  Delightful !  " 
" Beautiful  1"  Is  the  story  new?  Oh,  no,  it  is  quite  common,  a 
mere  love  story,  a  fall  from  a  horse,  a  declaration  of  love,  a  death 
or  two.  Has  it  character?  Again,  no.  The  persons  written  about 
are  every  day  characters.  We  come  then  tp  the  style  of  the  book, — 
what  of  that?  Ah,  yes,  now  we  have  it, —  herein  lies  the  charm; 
not  the  diction  merely,  but  in  the  simple  unassuming  way  in  which 
the  story  is  told.  An  old  lady,  beautiful  with  "  the  spirit's  youth 
which  never  passes  by,"  sits  down  by  our  side  and  tells  us  the  story 
of  her  life.  She  gives  us  an  autobiography  without  calling  it  such, 
and  best  of  all,  without  apologizing  for  it.  She  points  no  moral } 
she  has  too  much  delicacy  for  that.  She  speaks  of  the  beauty  of 
her  youth  without  vanity  or  false  modesty  as  of  any  beautiful  work 
of  her  Creator.  She  deems,  the  frank  trustfulness  of  youth  one  of 
life's  least  follies.  She  pours  out  with  her  recollections  all  the 
sweetness  and  loveliness  of  a  glorious  soul,  and  with  no  thought 
that  she  does  so.  The  book  has  sentiment  but  no  sentimentality. 
There  are  humorous  passages,  pathetic  passages  and  passages 
exceeding  sorrowful. 

A  writer  of  less  talent,  with  those  incidents  and  characters,  would 
have  given  us  a  sensation  novel.  But  the  book  reveals  its  author  to 
be  possessed  of  delicacy  —  a  gift  as  rare  as  genius.  She  makes  no 
parade  of  grief,  nor  does  she  state  it  to  be  sacred,  but  she  treats  it 
us  if  it  were  so.  She  does  not  prate  of  joy  in  high-flown  phrase, 
but  speaks  of  it  naturally,  and  in  a  sane  manner  as  people  whom  we 
meet  every  day  do.  The  book  is  characterized  by  an  absence  of  all 
attempt  at  effect.  It  is  not  bookish.  We  have  not  read  the  story ; 
an  old  lady  with  a  beautiful  face  told  it  to  us.  We  have  known  her 
and  loved  her,  and  now  we  reverence  her  memory.  We  revisit  old 
scenes  and  we  think  of  what  she  told  us  of  "A  Walk  in  Childhood," 
and  of  the  exquisite  regret  and  tenderness  with  which  she  told  it  — 
the  mice  in  the  nursery ;  the  old  nurse  with  her  prophetic  dreams-; 
the  closet  where  the  pooj  girl  "Bell"  hurried 'through  her  meals ; 
the  bridge  with  its  crowd  of  goody-venders,  and  the  little  deformed 
child  who  sold  night-caps;  the  barber;  the  "Claggum"  shop;  all 
these  are  become  as  familiar  as  our  own  childhood. 

Among  the  characters  "Lissy"  stands  out  starched  and  "prim," 
her  reproofs  and  assertions  knowing  no  verb  but  "ought,"  and 
Buffy  starts  forth  from  his  dark  closet  in  his  tight  nankeen  suit,  and 
we  hear  his  thin  voice  moaning,  "  I  wis'  I  was  Mother  Hubbard's 
dog."  We  cannot  doubt  that  the  place  for  this  book  is  among  stand 
ard  English  novels.  For  humor,  geniality,  ease  of  diction,  purity  of 
thought,  delineation  of  character,  though  not  perhaps  for  compre 
hensiveness,  it  deserves  a  high  place.  Yet  this  one  book  cannot 
place  the  author,  though  the  book  itself  be  placed.  We  should 
gladly  welcome  any  further  productions  from  the  pen  which  has 
written  the  "  Queen  of  the  County,"  giving  us  such  vivid  pictures 
of  English  life  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago,  and  giving  them,  too, 
With  such  delicate  touches  of  grace  aud  beauty.  M. 


IVIAINSTONE'S  HOUSEKEEPER. 

By  Miss  ELIZA  METEYARD  (SILVERPEN). 
1  vol.,  12mo.    Elegant  fancy  doth.    Price  $  1.75. 


Douglas  Jerrold  gave  this  distinguished  English  authoress 
this  "  nom  deplume"  and  her  style  has  the  point,  brightness, 
and  delicacy  which  it  suggests. —  This  is  not  a  cook  book  as 
the  title  might  mislead  some  to  suppose,  but  a  fresh,  vigorous, 
powerful  story  of  English  country  life,  full  of  exquisite  pic 
tures  of  rural  scenery,  with  a  plot  which  is  managed  with 
great  skill,  and  a  surprise  kept  constantly  ahead  so  that  from 
the  opening  to  the  close  the  interest  never  flags.  There  is 
life  in  every  page  and  a  fresh,  delicate,  hearty  sentiment  per 
vades  the  book  that  exhilarates  and  charms  indescribably. 

The  heroine  —  Charlotte  the  housekeeper  —  is  one  of  the 
finest  characters  ever  drawn,  and  merits  unqualified  commen 
dation. 

As  a  whole,  for  beauty  of  style  and  diction,  passionate  eai> 
nestness,  effective  contrasts,  distinctness  of  plot,  unity,  and 
completeness,  this  novel  is  without  a  rival.  It  is  a  "  mid 
night  darling "  that  Charles  Lamb  would  have  exulted  in, 
and  perhaps  the  best  as  yet  produced  from  a  woman's  pen. 


SIMPLICITY  AND  FASCINATION 

BY  ANNE   BEALE. 
1  vol. ,  12mo.     Elegant  fancy  cloth.    Price  $1.75. 


It  is  not  often  that  such  a  sound  and  yet  readable  English 
novel  is  republished  in  America. 

The  due  mean  between  flashiness  and  dulness  is  hard  to 
be  attained,  but  we  have  it  here. 

There  is  neither  a  prosy  page  nor  a  sensational  chapter 
in  it. 

It  is  a  nice  book  for  a  clean  hearth  and  an  easy  chair. 

It  is  a  natural,  healthy  book,  written  by  a  living  person, 
about  people  of  flesh  and  blood,  who  might  have  been  our 
neighbors,  and  of  events,  which  might  happen  to  anybody. 
This  is  a  great  charm  in  a  novel.  This  leaves  a  clean  taste 
in  the  mouth,  and  a  delicious  memory  of  the  feast. 

The  tone  of  it  is  high  and  true,  without  being  obtrusively 
good.  Such  a  book  is  as  great  a  relief  amid  the  sensation 
al  stories  of  the  day,  as  a  quiet  little  bit  of  "  still  life  "  is  to 
the  eye,  after  being  blinded  by  the  glaring  colors  of  the  French 
school. 

This  novel  reproduces  that  exquisite  tone  or  flavor  so  hard 
to  express  which  permeates  true  English  country  life,  and 
gives  to  it  a  peculiar  charm  unlike  any  other,  which  one  hav 
ing  once  seen  and  felt,  lives  as  it  were  under  •  a  spell,  and 
would  never  willingly  allow  to  fade  from  their  memory. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  Simplicity  and  Fas 
cination. 


^•f'  PIQUE:  ym 

A  Tale  of  the  English  Aristocracy, 

1  vol.,  12mo.    Elegant  fancy  cloth.    Price  $  1.75. 


Three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six  new  books 
were  published  in  England  this  last  year,  which  is  about  the 
average  number  of  past  years. 

Thirteen  years  ago  PIQUE  was  first  published  in  London, 
and  up  to  the  present  time,  notwithstanding  the  enormous 
number  of  new  books  issued,  the  effect  of  which  is  to  crowd 
the  old  ones  out  of  sight,  this  remarkable  novel  has  con 
tinued  to  have  a  large  sale. 

This  is  the  strongest  praise  that  can  be  bestowed  on  any 
book.  It  is  not  in  the  least  "  sensational,"  but  relies  solely 
on  its  rare  beauty  of  style  and  truthfulness  to  nature  for  its 
popularity. 

It  has  the  merit  of  being  amusing,  pleasantly  written,  and 
engrossing. 

The  characters  being  high-bred  men  and  women,  are 
charming  companions  for  an  hour's  solitude,  and  one  puts  the 
book  aside  regretfully,  even  as  one  closes  the  eyes  on  a  deli 
cious  vision.  The  American  edition  has  taken  every  one  by 
surprise,  that  so  remarkably  good  a  novel  should  have  so 
long  escaped  attention. 

Every  body  is  charmed  with  it,  and  its  sale  will  continue 
for  years  to  come. 


FAITH  GARTNEY'S  GIRLHOOD, 

By  the  Author  of  "  TUB  GAYWORTHYS,"   "  BOYS  AT  CHKQUASSET  " 
1  vol.,  12mo.    Elegant  fancy  cloth.    Pnc6  $  1.75. 


This  charming  story  fills  a  void  long  felt  for  something  for 
a  young  girl,  growing  into  womanhood,  to  read. 

It  depicts  that  bewitching  period  in  life,  lying  between 
FOURTEEN  and  TWENTY,  with  its  noble  aspirations,  and  fresh 
enthusiasms.  It  is  written  by  a  very  accomplished  lady,  and 
is  "  the  best  book  ever  written  for  girls." 

A  lady  of  rare  culture  says,  — 

" '  Faith  Gartney's  Girlhood,'  is  a  noble,  good  work,  that 
could  only  have  been  accomplished  by  an  elevated  mind 
united  to  a  chaste,  tender  heart.  From  the  first  page  to  the 
last,  the  impression  is  received  of  a  life  which  has  been 
lived;  the  characters  are  genuine,  well  drawn,  skilfully 
presented;  they  are  received  at  once  with  kind,  friendly 
greeting,  and  followed  with  interest,  till  the  last  page  com 
pels  a  reluctant  farewell. 

"  '  The  book  is  written  for  girls,  growing  as  they  grow  to 
womanhood.'  The  story  has  an  interest,  far  beyonr1  that 
found  in  modern  romances  of  the  day,  conveyed  in  pure, 
refined  language  ;  suggestive,  pleasing  thoughts  are  unfolded 
on  every  page ;  the  reflective  and  descriptive  passages  are 
natural,  simple,  and  exquisitely  finished. 

"  In  these  days,  when  the  tendency  of  society  is  to  educate 
girls  for  heartless,  aimless,  factitious  life,  a  book  like  this  is 
to  be  welcomed  and  gratefully  received.  Wherever  it  is 
read,  it  will  be  retained  as  a  thoughtful,  suggestive  —  if 
silent — friend." 


A  LOST  LOVE.    ' 

BY  ASHFORD  OWEN. 

1  vol.,  12mo.    Elegant  fancy  Cloth,  with  a  Portrait  of  the  Heroine 
Price  $1.25 

A  few  years  ago  a  number  of  American  novel  readers  got 
hold  of  a  modest  little  English  volume,  entitled  "A  Lost 
Love,"  by  Ashford  Owen,  and  spread  its  reputation  greatly 
in  private  companies  by  adjuring  all  their  acquaintances  to 
read  it. 

The  book  cannot  fail  to  have  a  run,  because  it  is  thor 
oughly  original  in  spirit,  incident,  sentiment,  and  character, 
and  though  the  farthest  in  the  world  from  being  a  u  sensa 
tional  "  story,  it  will  give  the  most  blase  novel  reader  a  new 
sensation.  It  is  a  quietly  intense  representation  of  deep  yet 
simple  feeling  and  sentiment,  in  its  development  under  unfa 
vorable  circumstances,  and  leaves  on  the  heart  a  far  finer 
ideal  impression  than  most  of  the  novels  which  do  not  equal 
it  in  reality  and  truth.  We  know  nothing  about  the  author, 
and  it  may  be  that  his  or  her  vein  Was  exhausted  in  the  pro 
duction  of  a  first  book ;  but  the  vein  itself,  though  it  may  be 
thin,  is  of  pure  gold. 

I^P  Read  what  the  English  Press  says  of  it :  — 

The  London  Athenceum,  says:  "  It  is  a  story,  full  of  grace  and 
genius.  We  recommend  our  readers  to  get  the  book  for  them 
selves.  No  outline  of  the  story  would  give  any  idea  of  its 
beauty." 

The  Saturday  Review,  says:  "A  striking,  and  original  story:  a 
work  of  genius  and  sensibility." 

The  Westminster  Review,  says:  "A  real  picture  of  a  woman's 
life ;  one  who,  while  loving  and  thirsting  to  be  loved,  can  give  up 
her  one  hope  in  life,  when  sympathy  and  good  sense  demand  the 
sacrifice." 

The  Quarterly  Review,  says :  "A  novel  of  great  genius ;  beauti 
ful  and  true  as  life  itself."  " 

The  Press,  says :  "A  tale  at  once  moving  and  whining,  natural 
and  romantic,  and  certain  to  raise  all  the  finer  sympathies  of  the 
reader's  nature.  Its  deep,  pure  sentiment,  and  admirable  style, 
will  win  for  it  a  lasting  place  in  English  fiction,  as  one  of  the 
truest  and  most  touching  pictures  of  woman's  love." 


THE  GAYWORTHYS. 

By  the  author  of   "FAITH  GARTNEY'S  GIRLHOOD,"  "BOYS  AT 

CHEQUASSET."  * 


£F"  American  ladies  and  gentlemen  travelling  in.  England,  are 
amazed  and  delighted  to  find  "an  American  Novel"  welcomed 
with  such  warmth  and  enthusiasm,  by  the  "cultivated"  and 
"  influential,"  in  all  parts  ot  the  Kingdom. 

No  American  book  since  "Uncle  Tom,"  is  so  universally 
known,  read,  and  talked  about. 

The  London  journals,  without  exception,  have  given  it  a  cor 
dial  welcome.  Read  what  they  say  of  it :  — 

"  We  wish  to  write  our  most  appreciative  word  of  this  admirahle  and  unexcep 
tional  book.  We  feel  while  we  read  it  that  a  new  master  of  fiction  has  arisen.  . 
.  .  We  can  well  aiford  to  wait  a  few  years  now,  if  at  the  end  we  are  to  receive 
from  the  same  pen  a  work  of  such  a  character  and  mark  as  "  The  Gayworthys." 

—  Eclectic  Journal. 

"  It  is  impossible  not  to  welcome  so  genial  a  gift.  Nothing  so  complete  and  del 
icately  beautiful  has  come  to  England  from  America  since  Hawthorne's  death,  and 
there  id  more  of  America  in  '  The  Gayworthys '  than  in  '  The  Scarlet  Letter,'  or 
'  The  House  with  Seven  Gables.'  .  .  .  We  know  not  where  so  much  tender 
feeling  and  wholesome  thought  are  to  be  found  together  as  in  this  history  of  the 
fortunes  of  the  Gayworthys."  —  Header. 

"  '  The  Gayworthys '  comes  to  us"  very  seasonably,  for  it  belongs  to  a  class  of 
novels  wanted  more  and  more  every  day,  yet  daily  growing  scarcer.  We  have, 
therefore,  a  warmer  welcome  for  the  book  before  us  as  being  a  particularly  favora 
ble  specimen  of  its  class.  Without  the  exciting  strength  of  wine,  it  offers  to 
feverish  lips  all  the  grateful  coolness  of  the  unfermented  grape." 

—  Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

"  We  have  no  misgivings  in  promising  our  readers  a  rich  treat  in  '  The  Gay 
worthys.'  .  .  .  'The  Gayworthys' will  become  a  great  favorite." 

— Nonconformist. 

"...  The  book  is  crowded  with  epigrams  as  incisive  as  thisr  yet  incisive 
without  malice  or  bitterness,  cutting  not  so  much  from  the  sharpness  of  the 
thought  as  from  its  weight.  There  is  deep  kindliness  in  the  following  passage,  as 

well  as  deep  insight The  tone  of  the  story,  the  curious  sense  of  peace 

and  kindliness  which  it  produces,  comes  out  well  in  that  extract,  and  the  reader 
quits  it,  feeling  as  he  would  have  felt  had  he  been  gazing  half  an  hour  on  that 
scene  —  witli  more  confidence  alike  in  nature  and  humanity,  less  care  for  the  noisy 
rush  of  city  life,  and  yet  withal  less  fearf  of  it.  —  Spectator. 

"  It  is  a  pleasant  book  and  will  make  for  the  produper  friends." 

v  —Saturday  Review. 

"  We  venture  to  say  no  one  who  begins  the  book  will  leave  it  unfinished,  or  will 
deny  that  great  additions  have  been  made  to  his  circle  of  acquaintance.  He  has 
been  introduced  to  a  New  England  village,  and  made  acquainted  with  most  of  the 
leading  villagers  in  a  way  which  leaves  the  impression  on  him  thenceforward  that 
he  knows  them  personally,  that  their  fortunes  and  failures,  and  achievements,  and 
misunderstandings  are  matters  of  interest  to  him,  that  he  would  like  to  know  how 
Gershom  Vose  got  on  with  his  farm,  and  if  Joanna  Gair's  marriage  turned  out 
happily,  and  if  '  Say  *  Gair  was  as  interesting  as  a  farmer's  wife  as  she  has  beea 
as  a  little  child." 


TWICE  LOST. 

A  NOVEL. 
By  S.  M.,  Author  of   "LINNET'S   TRIAL." 

READ    THE    OPINIONS    OF    THE    ENGLISH   PRESS* 

"  Another  first-rate  novel  by  a  woman  I  The  plot  well  conceived  and  worked 
out,  the  characters  individualized  and  clear-cut,  and  the  story  so  admirably  told 
that  you  are  hurried  along  for  two  hours  and  a  half  with  a  smile  often  breaking 
out  at  the  humor,  a  tear  ready  to  start  at  the  pathos,  and  with  unflagging  interest, 
till  the  heroine's  release  from  all  trouble  is  announced  at  the  end.  .  .  .  We 
heartily  recommend  the  book  to  all  readers.  It  is  more  full  of  character  than  any 
book  we  remember  since  Charles  Reade's  '  Christie  Johnstone.'  "—Reader. 


personages  have  all  of  them  a 
certain  look  of  reality,  and  there  is  a  notion  of  likeness  which  insures  the  reader's 
interest.  We  can  recommend  '  Twice  Lost '  as  a  novel  worth  reading." —Athenceum. 

"By  far  the  cleverest  book  on  our  list  is  'Twice  Lost.'  .  .  .  This  is  bold  and 
skilful  drawing,  and  it'  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  earlier  half  of  the  volume.  The 
combined  vigor,  ease,  and  perspicuity  of  the  writing  is  unusual." —  Guardian. 

"  Nothing  can  be  better  of  its  £ind  than  the  first  portion  of  «  Twice  Lost.'  .  .  . 
The  caustic  humor  and  strong  common  sense  which  mark  the  sketches  of  charac 
ter  in  this  book,  betray  a  keenness  of  observation  and  aptitude  for  producing  a 
telling  likeness  with  a  few  strokes,  which  need  only  a  wider  cultivation  to  secure  a 
more  complete  success  than  has  been  attained  in  'Twice  Lost.'  " 

Westminster  Review. 

"  It  is  quite  clear  that  the  author  has  given  a  good  deal  of  thought  to  the  con 
struction  of  the  storv,  with  a  view  to  producing  strong  interest  without  the  use  of 
the  common  sensational  expedients.  To  say  that  'Twice  Lost'  is  very  well 
written,  and  very  interesting,  would  not  be  doing  it  justice.  —  Morning  Herald. 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  autho'r's  power.  She  holds  her  characters  and 
incidents  well  in  hand,  writes  firmly,  and  often  very  happily,  and  there  are  many 
passages  which  indicate  power  much  above  mediocrity."  —  London  Review. 

"  Not  very  often  do  we  meet  with  a  novel  so  thoroughly  good  as  '  Twice  Lost.' 
If,  as  may  be  assumed  from  both  subject  and  style,  its  author  is  a  woman,  she  may 
at  once  be  classed  with  the  Bronte  sisters  and  George  Eliot.  She  has  the  firm 
conception  and  distinct  touch  of  the  first-class  artist.  Her  characters  are  real  and 
individual.  —  Press. 

"  This  is  a  well-written  romantic  tale,  in  which  we  find  many  pleasing  incidents 
and  some  successful  portraiture  of  character.  The  character  of  Miss  Derwent,  the 
companion  and  governess  of  the  heroine,  Miss  Langley,  is  very  well  developed  in 
the  course  of  the  narrative.  The  moral  tone  of  the  book  is  very  good,  and  so  far 
as  religious  matters  are  touched  upon,  they  are  treated  with  propriety  and  rever 
ence."—  English  Churchman. 

"  The  characters  are  well  drawn  — the  situations  are  new,  the  sentiments  are 
unsentimental,  and  the  incidental  remarks  those  of  a  clever  woman  who  is  rea 
sonable  and  tolerant." —  Globe. 

"The  plot  of  this  tale  is  an  original  one,  and  well  worked  out.  ...  We  can 
sincerely  recommend  this  tale;  it  is  quite  out  of  the  general  run  of  books,  and  is 
sure  to  prove  an  interesting  one." —  Observer. 

"  We  notice  this  story  because  its  authoress  will  one  day,  we  believe,  produce  a 
powerful  novel."—  Spectator. 

"  The  reader  is  carried  along  with  unflagging  and  exciting  interest,  and  the  book 
is  full  of  characters  finely  sketched,  and  of  passages  powerfully  wntt  n. "  ^^ 

"That  the  author  of  'Twice  Lost'  can  write  well,  the  book  itself  furnishe* 
sufficient  evidence."  —  Nation. 

"  This  is  a  striking  story.  It  has  a  freshness  and  originality  about  it  which  art 
very  pleasant."—  Morning  Advertiser. 

"  Without  being  a  sensation  novel  this  is  a  most  exciting  and  at^^ve^r/'M 

"  A  most  romantic  story,  the  interest  being  well  sustained  throughout,  and  every 
Jiing  coming  right  at  the  end.  Any  one  must  Be  entertained  by  it.  —  John  BuU. 


